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Laguna Peninsula's Recorded History

Laguna Peninsula
The Hydro-Electric Zone

A tourist magnet, Laguna Peninsula is a large region of land that was formed from volcanic activity millenia ago, and while the mountains around this area are relatively barren, the coastal regions are a haven for water pokemon and many people often visit on their vacations, taking residence in Seaside City's many hotels and inns, and having a good time. The city itself is situated around the delta of the river, which flows from a valley upstream and is sourced at the Hydro-Electric dam, a massive construct that has created a reservoir of water several dozen million cubic feet in volume. Nearby people can find the banks of the river to be a beautiful area for fishing and the sort, although the high number of electric pokemon in the area may make this a daunting prospect.

Laguna Estersands
The eastern shores of the peninsula, as well as the waters of it, are postcard-standard beauty, with their azure waters, silver sands and conceivable square inch of it in pristine beauty. As a result the Pok&#233;mon of the vicinity are equally tame and relaxed.

Sub-Areas
~Ampere Beach
The largest stretch of coastal sand in all of Fizzy Bubbles, Ampere Beach is famed for its sand, which contains a mild electrical current that soothes the body. This charge is the result of the high salinity content, combined with the naturally high electricity from the central regions, providing an earthing ground for the static. As a result, the beach is often used in therapeutics, evident by the resort known as Pieli Harbour.

~Pieli Harbour
Both a large harbour and resort, Pieli Harbour is famous for the best ice cream in the land, as well as its massive shipping stations, with boats as small as canoes to colossal ferries. The resort itself is archetypical of a seaside funfair, with several small rides as well as a roller coaster and ferris wheel, though the promenade at night is a sight for sore eyes to drown their sorrows on.

~S.S Lanturn Wreck
The S.S Lanturn, once a majestic cruise liner, was struck with tragedy when terrorists snuck on board and held the ship hostage for weeks until it ran aground a coral reef. Although the terrorists are long gone, the ship has became a deserted vessel, seldom visited due to the Pok&#233;mon residing within the reef, and the ship itself is reputed haunted, the souls of those who lost their lives in the terror attack seeking eternal rest.

~Pirate's Cove
A sizable gulf set in some cliffs, with torrential waters at the entrance preventing proper investigation. So called for the fact that pirates frequented the cove for their plunder, the rapids have resulted in the area being less cordoned as a tourist spot. Though several people have managed to brave the waters, using their powerful Surfing Pok&#233;mon to break through, none have emerged from the hallowed cliffs, rumoured to contain vast swathes of booty.

Southern Plains
The southern regions of Laguna Peninsula are known to be beautiful grassland, with rolling hills and grazing Mareep by the thousand, as well as vast forests protected by the Laguna Peninsula Conservation Society. While the prominent Seaside City stands near the delta, the increased pollution has concerned the wildlife, prompting higher hostility to trainers and picnickers alike.

Sub-Areas
~Seaside City
Landmark capital of Laguna Peninsula, and although officially called Valacia, few are the people who actually call it by that. A sprawling city with all the trimmings, including shopping malls and parks, as well as an industrial sector responsible for 72&#37; of the pollution in the city, attracting poisonous Pok&#233;mon to it. With plenty to do and places to visit, you’d be hard-pressed for a lazy time.

~Blitz River
The longest river in the peninsula, and up there as one of the longest in the world, the Blitz is a crystalline river whose source, among others, is the Ohm Reservoir located in the westersands. While the water seems pure, there have been reports that the local Pok&#233;mon in the region use it for all their cleaning duties, making it rather impure for the body. The fishing at the riverside, however, is unparalleled.

~Blitz Delta
Rivers widen at the mouth, forming deltas, and the Blitz is famous for the lightning-style delta it possesses, which has resulted in the ground becoming a slightly marshy region. Although being beside the ocean has removed the stench, the delta is nevertheless an excellent farming area, and a few successful farmers have their fields within the marshlands. Lately, however, there have been complaints of pests damaging the ecosystem and crops, and many jobs have been put on offer at the farmsteads, leading to an influx in cash-strapped trainers into the region.

~Spacial Hill
An unusual hill with a statue of the Spacial Pok&#233;mon Palkia atop, forming a natural sundial on the waters that run round it below. According to legend, tribes of old would offer gifts to the statue at night, before returning the next day to find the gifts missing, even the human ones. While unusual, there have been studies that strange things happen at midnight atop the hill, though none have ever been found to report the strange goings-on.

Central Wastelands
Unlike the rest of the peninsula, the central regions are a mighty wasteland of dead trees, ruined vegetation and heavily adapted Pok&#233;mon living it rough. Due to the manner of the wastes, few tourists ever venture in, though many are the trainers that have entered for rare Pok&#233;mon and few that return, with some unlucky souls shattered like the ground when the tremendous lightning strikes.

Sub-Areas
~Thunder Plains
A far cry from the plains around Seaside City, the Thunder Plains are consistently lashed with vicious thunderstorms, making travel for unprepared trainers a dance with death, almost literally as the ferocity of the bolts cracks the hardened stony ground with every strike, and a Pok&#233;mon designed for attracting lightning is nigh-on requisite for travelling through the plains without being smote. Indeed, such are the conditions that only the hardiest Pok&#233;mon reside here, calling the place home.

~Maelstrom Towers
Two mighty towers that stand in the wastelands, the corpses of a great battle litter what was once a great castle, destroyed in a war between a small group and a much larger one. Legend states that a great Pok&#233;mon lie atop both towers, though the keys to the tower doors are hidden within the plains. Many have searched, but none have succeeded.

~Ruptured Monolith
A massive natural tower with a great cleft in the centre, created when the death roar of the legendary beast of lightning was struck a fatal blow by a jealous rival. The monolith itself is located over a massive ravine, and a small error in step would result in a minute-long freefall to the rocky depths below, in a naturally fatal impact. The monolith itself supposedly contains ancient artefacts.

~Temple of the Shattered Light
An unusual temple deep at the pit of the Ruptured Monolith, its colossal doors opening only on the count of a massive surge of lightning. Named for the broken lightning sigils adorning the walls, the temple is rumoured to be home to a Pok&#233;mon of unmatched power, though the puzzles and death traps within have so far eluded anyone from proving the theory.

Laguna Westersands
Unlike the estersands, the shoreline of the Laguna Westersands is of rocky origin, far from picture perfect. The massive mountain ranges to the west of Laguna help provide for the beautiful weather to the east, and due to this heavy rain it brings, many industrial sectors are located here. Travellers should be warned, however, that the weather can turn for the worse suddenly, and reports have went out for missing persons.

Sub-Areas
~Ohm Reservoir
Supplying energy for Seaside City and the major tributary for the Blitz, the Ohm Reservoir was formed after the construction of the Surge Dam, and consists of twenty million cubic metres of water, enough to drown the city if it were to burst out. The reservoir itself contains ancient submerged ruins beneath it, and in spite of explorations little headway has been met.

~Energos Quarry
A large quarry seemingly full of a magnetic ore, all electrical equipment fails in the area, including Pok&#233;dexes and watches. Electric Pok&#233;mon also seem to act oddly in the quarry, and after a few years of work it was abandoned due to accidents. There are still chambers with gemstones within the tunnels, but those seeking financial gain are warned that the native Pok&#233;mon within will be reluctant to part with them.

~Surge Dam
Constructed by Volcanity Inc to power Seaside City, the dam itself has been the site of several events, such as its opening and the riot from the LPCS over the loss of the ruins. The dam itself holds back an enormous volume of water, and routine checks are made daily to ensure weak spots aren’t left alone. The Laguna branch of Volcanity Inc is also located here, if people wish for jobs to do.

~The Tumulus Pharos
Specifically a natural monument so heavily charged with electricity it glows with the brightness of a sun at night, the Tumulus light source is debated due to lack of study. What can be said is that it is a godsend to sailors lost at sea as a sign of liberty, and the Tumulus itself consists of an empty hollow spire, with no apparent means of entry save the very peak. None have ventured into the pharos, however.

Areas of Interest
Possible tourist attractions for Laguna Peninsula are located all over the island, and sometimes in the surrounding waters at sections that cannot be classed as part of the official segments.

~Cascade Isle
A small island on the verge of a cataract, Cascade Isle is famed for its massive waterfall preventing entry from anywhere but the air. The isle itself is reported to contain species of Pok&#233;mon not found on mainland Laguna, and several visitors have returned with bags of treasure, yet the isle itself is an untamed forest with no visible entry point save the waterfall source...

~Spark Castle
Located within Seaside City, Spark Castle is home to the ruling family of Laguna Peninsula, the Watts, and much of the castle grounds are open to the public. The family itself is fond of battling and trainers are free to try and defeat the members of the family, though very few have ever succeeded.

~Orcain Catacombs
Within the Laguna Cataract, a sunken hole in the waters much like a trench, lies an odd and mighty statue of the legendary Pok&#233;mon of the sea, Kyogre. The statue itself if the entrance to the Orcain Catacombs, a labyrinth of tunnels and caves located underneath the peninsula. It is very easy to become lost in the catacombs, and the reports of the cries of the lost emerging from the catacombs have deterred many from visiting what could be the most dangerous place in the peninsula.

~Laguna Ruins
The remnants of the last great empire in Laguna, the ruins have became a massive museum in the northern section of the peninsula. Surrounded in grassland, the ruins themselves are host to a local exploration contest held consistently in the land, with prizes on offer for the groups of plucky adventurers who choose to explore the ruins.

Rules for the Laguna Ruins Exploration Contest.
~You may bring only TWO Pok&#233;mon with you into the ruins.
~At the start, you are appointed a partner with two Pok&#233;mon as well, who you must work alongside with. This partner will be a trainer, though not an actual FB member.
~You are both given ONE special Pok&#233; ball for capturing any Pok&#233;mon you may encounter, as well as a small exploration kit including a rope, harness, torch and a few planks of wood, which you may use to explore with.
~You have up to FIFTEEN updates to capture a Pok&#233;mon, and afterwards your ball will be teleported away.
~You will also be supplied with one Pok&#233;mon Ranger Styler, for use on wild Pok&#233;mon ONLY. The styler will only have enough energy to capture three Pok&#233;mon temporarily, after which it will need recharging. The Styler can only be recharged at the explorer’s station outside the ruins, and you cannot capture an electric type and ask to recharge the styler. An RNG roll will determine whether you are successful at capturing a Pok&#233;mon with the styler.

As the first zone I own, there is currently a FIVE-MEMBER CAP on the zone, which may increase to seven if enough people are interested. Any ZAs who wish to help me and are chosen will also have a five member cap, and this post exists to keep a check on who is updating who. As a result of this, I will also post general rules for replying here.

UPDATERS:fishyfool:
~Arc Angel
~Stark
~
~
~

ZONE OPEN!

RULES:

When posting, put your replies in deepskyblue and use size 1 font, so as to save server space and make things easier on my specs-ladled eyes. Your posts may be as long as you want, though a minimum of FIVE LINES will help in terms of your updates by giving me enough info to think of something. The final rule, of course, is to have heaps of fun in the Laguna Peninsula!

S.S. Lanturn Wreck: Not completely shipwrecked, but the S.S. Lanturn is merely abandoned after a terrorist group attacked and killed several important people in a foolish bid to free their leader. Located a mile off the coast of the peninsula, the ship has retained much of it's glory, and humans have been replaced by pokemon as a resting ground for birds and water pokemon equally. If you have a pokemon who can Surf or Fly, you too can visit the abandoned ship, if you dare: Rumours are high that a few of the terrorists remain on board, plotting their next move, and you wouldn't want to get caught up in their plans.

Jessica sighed. She hadn’t witnessed the breadth of cool ocean for quite a while, hadn’t been able to admire its vastness, its stillness. She leaned against the back of Lapras’s neck, warm and soft from the balmy rays of the sun. A contrast to the hard surface she was spread lazily on, gazing idly towards the sky, drifting slowly. She smiled, shifting her back, faintly running her fingertips along the calm surface. What a wonderful sensation. She had never journeyed across the sea while remaining so close that her breath could form ripples on its own. It was amazing, yet somewhat terrifying. What if she fell? She wasn’t a great swimmer, so it was kind of a risk for her to travel by herself towards the middle of the ocean, a mile from shore.

She heard a song, uplifting, reassuring of her fears. That’s right. She wasn’t alone. Tessie craned her neckline around for Jess to stroke tenderly, crooning with joy. Jessica smiled. This was their first chance to go on an adventure together, she couldn’t waste it. Tess had been patient for so long, she deserved an excursion where she could relax in her own element. Jess knew that the Lapras would protect her if anything went wrong. In the worst situation, she had a couple other experienced Water-types whom she could rely upon.

A shipwreck emerged into view, a titanic haze on the horizon. Not exactly wrecked, she realized as they drew closer in awe, but merely neglected, submerging. It had been forsaken. To her eyes, it seemed, the ship appeared somewhat lonely. There were letters, faded but surviving, printed mournfully on the side: the S.S. Lanturn. The boat was stripped of former pride, entangled in seaweed, time and progress immobilized.

Jessica shuddered, as if the air had chilled. The image was surprising, she had expected a wreckage to emit silence, desolation. Instead, an air of danger lurked about, though it was quiet, unsubstantiated, as if her own shadow was stalking her. She shook off the suspicion, and nudged Tess forward, warily. They glided towards the wreck, a cautious pair. Tess had ceased humming, she was watching now, for anything doubtful. Despite the apprehension, Jessica’s hands were trembling with excitement. She felt the tension and exhilaration rising from the dragon’s armor as well. They were prepared to discover, to encounter, whatever may lie in wait for them, watching them, perhaps, as they watched, together.

Seaside City: Built around the Blitz Delta, Seaside City is everything you'd expect from a tourist magnet: Hundreds of shops, vast hotel grounds, and a community in harmony in most of the grounds. Seaside City is also home to the local constabulary, which is hard at work trying to control some of the feral gangs that plague the city at night, which is when this city becomes a battleground, and it is not advised to stay outside the tourism areas when the sun goes down.

The salty sea air stings Amras' nostrils as he steps onto the Laguna Peninsula. Having just arrived, Amras took a moment to familiarize himself with his surrounding, his sharp eyes picking out the high-tech modernization mixed with natural beauty in an instant. Smiling, he pulls out a map received from the Pokemon Center he had visited before arriving. Instantly, an area in particular caught Amras' eye. Seaside City. Being a very old being, Amras was unaccustomed to cities of any sort. A giant, diverse city would be a great place for him to train, and perhaps even catch some Pokemon that dwell in the city. Noting for future reference the location of Spark Castle should he be interested in that, Amras began walking again. Taking another deep breath of the clean sea air, Amras shouldered his backpack, checked his belt to be certain all his Pokeballs were in order, and set off towards the sea of buildings before him, ready to do some training and have the adventure of a lifetime...

Ampere Beach: A beautiful beach that borders almost all of the peninsula, Ampere Beach is a lengthy stretch of silvery sand with a very small electric charge that is soothing to the body, and many holiday makers can be found here. The tourists always like guides of the local area, so this beach is the first stop for anyone wanting to explore the island, at prices debatable. Many water pokemon swim in the warm seas around the beach, the small electrical field being a benefit to their limbs, and some land-based pokemon are often located here, relaxing on the shores. Ampere Beach is also home to the best ice cream in the land, with the family factory located a few hundred metres from the beach.[/size]

The scientist knew he was a sight, decked out in his usual long-sleeved jacket, but he wasn't one who went for fashion. Having lived in Lilycove City in his prepubescent years, he was used to the coastal life and the warmer temperatures associated with it. But he wasn't here to see the sights; he was here on another personal mission of his. He screened down his PokéDex's list until it stopped at the 120th entry: Staryu, the next operative he needed to recruit for the team. While Grim now possessed the ability to scry into the future, experience and research informed Shadow that the success rate and application of such foresight was highly debatable. Not like visuals from a living security camera. The plans were set for it, and if they succeeded he could easily cut down the risks of the unknown his team would face. That was, of course, assuming he could find the Pokémon that could make it all possible.

Looking ahead, he saw Zapster stretching and strutting about, taking in the electric aura infusing the silver silicon oxide, while Mango stood next to his leg cooing happily. Slapping his PokéDex shut, Shadow felt glad the Electivire and Quagsire had the opportunity to roam about freely in a fitting area, but there were his objectives to think about. Getting to a suitable Staryu habitat was half the mission; the other half was hunting one. Shadow had no idea how to actually look for something underwater, other than letting Mango go on a solo hunt -- an option he did not like considering, unless it had to be a last resort. He lacked the fishing gear to do some proper angling for Staryu as well, and for all he knew Staryu might not even colonised the relevant region along the coast.

"Come along, team," he said, after some moments of deeper thought. "We're going along the beach. Maybe we'll find something or someone that might be of help to us." Interjections of confidence and enthusiasm answered this declaration from Zapster and Mango respectively, as Shadow led the way along the sandy shore with his two Pokémon alongside him. Perhaps a knowledgeable guide would offer their services, or an angler could show him the ropes to Staryu hunting. Maybe one of the Starshape Pokémon would even randomly reveal itself from the depths of the water. Who knew? All the trio could do for now was walk...

It's just another wave of inspiration...

And with that, our zone takes off! As it is, I'd like to extend a welcome to Amras.MG, lilbluecorsola and Shadowshocker to my group, if there's anything I can help ye with, don't hesitate to call.

S.S Lanturn Wreck

Lilblue: Your travels around the land brought you to the waters in the Laguna Peninsula as you enjoy the ocean in the region, the warm waters rippling around your Lapras comforting as they are unnerving, considering your inability to swim well, smashed by your Pokémon’s song as you stroke Tessie’s neck, your first adventure together, one you hope will be relaxing and with your other water Pokémon with you, you feel safe. As your gaze turns to the ship ahead, somewhat surprised to see a large liner in the middle of the sea neglected, and as the foreboding size of it seems to give an image of danger, you and Tessie become excited, wondering what could be onboard for you both.

It doesn’t take long before you reach the hull of the ship, and the sheer scale of it comes into play: The S.S Lanturn seems large enough to house a small pod of Wailord and have enough room for a family of Steelix. As you notice a small indent, you find a hole near one of the rusted ladders, almost beckoning you to enter as the water inside fills a large room with a door at one end. As you notice this, a sound above your head diverts your gaze from the hole to the deck above, where voices seem to be emanating from. Your Lapras nudges you gently, almost as though she is urging you inside the ship before you are spotted, and as you prepare to enter, one of the voices mentions the words “Lapras Hunt.” You can either stay outside and eavesdrop, but risk detection or enter the ship and be unaware of what you may find inside.

What will you do?

Seaside City

Amras: Your ancient and mysterious history brought you to Seaside City, somewhere highly unfamiliar to you, as you enter the streets, seeking adventure. Breathing deeply the air, fresh salty oxygen tainted with the slightest hint of industrial gases native to the cityscapes of the world, your Pokémon your only partners, you note Spark Castle as a place of interest, but instead opt to explore the city itself a bit first. As you walk, the sounds of vehicles and people talking fill your ears as you head down streets, urban Pokémon darting around the place and the natural calm of the area still in direct view.

After about thirty minutes of walking, you find yourself in a bustling square, where a fully-fledged market is active: Stalls and stores of assorted goods, from berries and Poffin and healing items to the obscure trinkets that benefit anyone, this place was a trainer’s paradise if they had cash to burn. A few shadows pass overhead, and as you look up, you notice a few Wingull pass overhead naturally, before a sudden bump attains your attention as you reach for your pokeballs and note all of them still intact, a quickened apology coming from a youngster as he scampers through the crowd. As you wonder of his hurry, you notice several other people milling away from around a corner, and as you try and continue to investigate, you feel a hand grasp your shoulder as you turn to face a man of around thirty, his shaven chin and calm voice almost like the sea breeze itself communicating with you.

“Lad, there’s trouble ahead. I’d not advise ye to run headlong into a dangerous situation ye’re not sure of.”

With this, the man releases his grip on you as you peek around the corner to see a woman of around twenty with vivid scarlet hair concentrating at the sky, which seems to be flocking with a large group of Murkrow, all of them flying in circles above a stall seemingly selling fish, a couple of the birds making dives to the canvas and snatching away a fish or two periodically before soaring back into the skies and over a building, all the while making the nerves of the fishmonger fray at his stock being depleted by the thieving crows. As a squawk attracts your attention, you look down where a few of the Murkrow are attacking a large feline Pokémon, who is scratching at them as they come near, getting pecked by a couple when it lands a successful strike on one of the birds. You also see a couple of unconscious Murkrow lying around it, and come to the conclusion that the girl and her Persian are trying to keep the man’s stock from being filched by the Murkrow, and seem to be struggling.

What will you do?

Ampere Beach

Shadow: Ampere Beach: One of the better places to relax, and yet here you were in your standard attire, sticking out like a heavily bashed thumb. Your current aim of finding a Staryu among the beaches and the natural ability of it for your own personal aid to the team brought you here. Your Electivire and Quagsire are certainly enjoying the area, as you consider the possible areas to explore for the Staryu situation: Sending Mango alone in the ocean would be a risky move, while your lack of fishing ability eliminates this as well, as you announce the plans to head along the beach for aid. As the three of you walk along, your mind wanders elsewhere, wondering if a guide or angler would help, or even the starfish itself.

It isn’t long before the distinct starfish shape appears before you, albeit in the form of a Starmie and a young lad lolling around in the waters, seemingly having fun. As you notice this, Zapster notions towards the sea and you notice a large navy fin moving around the area, before making a beeline for the two. As you call out to them, the Starshape Pokémon swiftly swims around to intercept the fin as a white glow emanates from the fin, and as the boy starts to panic, his Starmie is knocked unceremoniously flying from the skull bash, landing in the shallows a couple of hundred feet away as the Sharpedo starts to circle the poor kid. Unless you do something, it is certain that the poor kid will become a tasty meal for the shark, and with his possession of a Starmie, he may know something about the species that may be of use in your personal mission.

Shadow: Ampere Beach: One of the better places to relax, and yet here you were in your standard attire, sticking out like a heavily bashed thumb. Your current aim of finding a Staryu among the beaches and the natural ability of it for your own personal aid to the team brought you here. Your Electivire and Quagsire are certainly enjoying the area, as you consider the possible areas to explore for the Staryu situation: Sending Mango alone in the ocean would be a risky move, while your lack of fishing ability eliminates this as well, as you announce the plans to head along the beach for aid. As the three of you walk along, your mind wanders elsewhere, wondering if a guide or angler would help, or even the starfish itself.

It isn’t long before the distinct starfish shape appears before you, albeit in the form of a Starmie and a young lad lolling around in the waters, seemingly having fun. As you notice this, Zapster notions towards the sea and you notice a large navy fin moving around the area, before making a beeline for the two. As you call out to them, the Starshape Pokémon swiftly swims around to intercept the fin as a white glow emanates from the fin, and as the boy starts to panic, his Starmie is knocked unceremoniously flying from the skull bash, landing in the shallows a couple of hundred feet away as the Sharpedo starts to circle the poor kid. Unless you do something, it is certain that the poor kid will become a tasty meal for the shark, and with his possession of a Starmie, he may know something about the species that may be of use in your personal mission.

What will you do?

As the events continued unfolding, Shadow kept his emotions in check as per standard modus operandi. The fact that the newest human encounter was in the company of a Starmie wasn't much to go on; said boy might not even be a local and the Starmie might not necessarily have been his. The appearance of a Sharpedo on its lunch break, though, meant that everything else would have to take a back seat. Regardless of whether the boy could offer him information or assistance, guaranteeing his safety was of first priority, but Shadow was unsure of how to advance. In a normal battle scenario Zapster would have been the best choice, but given the boy's position the scientist could not ensure that the Electivire's moves wouldn't adversely affect the boy or the environment. And Mango's lower speed would not necessarily reach the boy in time to pick him up and drop him off shore.

"Wait a minute. Speed..." Frowning, Shadow performed a quick run through of the abilities both Zapster and Mango knew. Perhaps there was a way around the problem; a key lying in the movesets he gave them.

"Zapster, Mango; battle stations!" he declared. "Zapster, go take out that Sharpedo with a Quick Attack while Mango prepares a Trick Room. Then, Mango, use your boosted speed to make for the boy, and leap back here holding him with a U-Turn. In the meanwhile, Zapster, smash Sharpedo with a Thunderpunch, taken into a Cross Chop!"

Amras:[/b] Your ancient and mysterious history brought you to Seaside City, somewhere highly unfamiliar to you, as you enter the streets, seeking adventure. Breathing deeply the air, fresh salty oxygen tainted with the slightest hint of industrial gases native to the cityscapes of the world, your Pokémon your only partners, you note Spark Castle as a place of interest, but instead opt to explore the city itself a bit first. As you walk, the sounds of vehicles and people talking fill your ears as you head down streets, urban Pokémon darting around the place and the natural calm of the area still in direct view.

After about thirty minutes of walking, you find yourself in a bustling square, where a fully-fledged market is active: Stalls and stores of assorted goods, from berries and Poffin and healing items to the obscure trinkets that benefit anyone, this place was a trainer’s paradise if they had cash to burn. A few shadows pass overhead, and as you look up, you notice a few Wingull pass overhead naturally, before a sudden bump attains your attention as you reach for your pokeballs and note all of them still intact, a quickened apology coming from a youngster as he scampers through the crowd. As you wonder of his hurry, you notice several other people milling away from around a corner, and as you try and continue to investigate, you feel a hand grasp your shoulder as you turn to face a man of around thirty, his shaven chin and calm voice almost like the sea breeze itself communicating with you.

“Lad, there’s trouble ahead. I’d not advise ye to run headlong into a dangerous situation ye’re not sure of.”

With this, the man releases his grip on you as you peek around the corner to see a woman of around twenty with vivid scarlet hair concentrating at the sky, which seems to be flocking with a large group of Murkrow, all of them flying in circles above a stall seemingly selling fish, a couple of the birds making dives to the canvas and snatching away a fish or two periodically before soaring back into the skies and over a building, all the while making the nerves of the fishmonger fray at his stock being depleted by the thieving crows. As a squawk attracts your attention, you look down where a few of the Murkrow are attacking a large feline Pokémon, who is scratching at them as they come near, getting pecked by a couple when it lands a successful strike on one of the birds. You also see a couple of unconscious Murkrow lying around it, and come to the conclusion that the girl and her Persian are trying to keep the man’s stock from being filched by the Murkrow, and seem to be struggling.

What will you do?

Amras walks through the giant city, wading through the crowds and trying to take in the sights at the same time. Passing through a market, Amras notices a large commotion and heads toward it, only to be stopped by a stranger. Upon being released, Amras' gaze turns to the sky, where he sees a large crowd of Murkrow attempting to eat a vendor's fish supply. Noting a girl and her Persian defending the vendor, Amras quickly decides to help the two, as a ton of Murkrow versus one Persian is not fair whatsoever. Picking out the Thunder Ball on his belt, Amras tosses it into the air, releasing Java the Pikachu. With a cry of "Chu!" Java straightens her Red Scarf and prepares for combat orders.

"Java, use a Thunder to try and knock out a lot of those Murkrow at once! I'm going to go check out what's going on here..." Amras said as he moved towards the girl with the scarlet hair, intent on finding out what's going on.

Energos Quarry: As a mine abandoned after an errant spark caused a massive cave-in that crushed hundreds of the workers, Energos Quarry is full of an electro-magnetic ore that causes electrical devices to malfunction and electric pokemon to act strangely. Many of the machines used in the dam were constructed with minerals derived from the rocks, and the quarry itself is an unsightly scar in the face of the region, with the statue of Palkia mysteriously looking in the direction of it. Workers who escaped the mines before the cave-in reportedly saw a mystical glow emanate from the statue at the time, and investigations found nothing unusual about the statue. Although abandoned, there are still many gemstones to be found in the tunnels and mines within, although plucky adventurers are warned that some of the pokemon living in the mines may be reluctant to part with the treasures...

The air was clear in Centin's head, and he knew where he was bound. Stepping down on The Hydro-Electric Zone, he felt a certain distinction within the vacinity. Something drew him to it, but he did not know what. It wasn't really like him to be visiting a barren wasteland at all. He was the kind of person, who, by any chance, would visit a river of flow, a forest of berries and bricks of sand. Well, you could almost say that a river was or is indeed flowing within the area, but it was unmatched to what the trainer has seen on his previous adventures. Nevertheless, he moved forward, hopefully, to newer adventures, and hopefully, to something not so Centin-like.

It was quite a solid ground, he thought, and that would be utmost suitable for pokemon roaming. Out came a whiscash from its pokeball, "Cash, cash." The lazing pokemon flapped its fins and twitched its whiskers a little bit, stretching itself after a long nap from its pokeball, and probably would take another one right off the bat, but it seemed too joyful today. You see, this pokemon is very much attracted to yellow objects. It might have been his whiskers, or it could very well be gold! Soon after, the whiscash's body unstiffened, and stiffened again. "Skarsvalg, it's treasure time!" The whiscash dragged itself on the ground, hoping to feel some treasure with its delicate whiskers. Its trainer marched on to the energos quarry as gracefully as a professional. Maybe the sandy beach of sand castle bricks can wait for next time.

Areas:Ampere Beach: A beautiful beach that borders almost all of the peninsula, Ampere Beach is a lengthy stretch of silvery sand with a very small electric charge that is soothing to the body, and many holiday makers can be found here. The tourists always like guides of the local area, so this beach is the first stop for anyone wanting to explore the island, at prices debatable. Many water pokemon swim in the warm seas around the beach, the small electrical field being a benefit to their limbs, and some land-based pokemon are often located here, relaxing on the shores. Ampere Beach is also home to the best ice cream in the land, with the family factory located a few hundred metres from the beach.

If there was any place Katsu would choose to spend a relaxing day with his Pokemon, it had to be the beach. Back home, and for as long as he could remember, he had made regular trips to the local one for that very purpose. Ampere Beach, however, was far grander, and busier then what he was used to. It stretched off as far as the eye could see, with both people and Pokemon crowding the shores and the shallows.

As usual, Kiba was with him, and he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying both the warmth of the sun, and the electrical energy in the environment, evident by his tranquil expression. Under normal circumstances, he would've been leading the way, but today was different, for another one of Katsu's Pokemon taken up that duty; an energetic, young Charmander, who seemed to be having the time of her life as she skipped along, taking in the sights and the refreshing sea breeze as she went. Flandre, as Katsu had recently decided to call her, had never been to a beach before, so her excitement was only natural, and while she seemed to know better then to go near the water, he and Kiba still kept a close eye on her.

Katsu was content to simply go for a stroll, and for the time being, his two Pokemon seemed to feel the same way, so they continued to make their way down the beach...

And with that, our zone takes off! As it is, I'd like to extend a welcome to Amras.MG, lilbluecorsola and Shadowshocker to my group, if there's anything I can help ye with, don't hesitate to call.

S.S Lanturn Wreck

Lilblue: Your travels around the land brought you to the waters in the Laguna Peninsula as you enjoy the ocean in the region, the warm waters rippling around your Lapras comforting as they are unnerving, considering your inability to swim well, smashed by your Pokémon’s song as you stroke Tessie’s neck, your first adventure together, one you hope will be relaxing and with your other water Pokémon with you, you feel safe. As your gaze turns to the ship ahead, somewhat surprised to see a large liner in the middle of the sea neglected, and as the foreboding size of it seems to give an image of danger, you and Tessie become excited, wondering what could be onboard for you both.

It doesn’t take long before you reach the hull of the ship, and the sheer scale of it comes into play: The S.S Lanturn seems large enough to house a small pod of Wailord and have enough room for a family of Steelix. As you notice a small indent, you find a hole near one of the rusted ladders, almost beckoning you to enter as the water inside fills a large room with a door at one end. As you notice this, a sound above your head diverts your gaze from the hole to the deck above, where voices seem to be emanating from. Your Lapras nudges you gently, almost as though she is urging you inside the ship before you are spotted, and as you prepare to enter, one of the voices mentions the words “Lapras Hunt.” You can either stay outside and eavesdrop, but risk detection or enter the ship and be unaware of what you may find inside.

What will you do?

OoC – Thanks for the warm welcome. <3

ICE BARRIER: Ice Barrier creates a shield of solid ice around your Pokémon which will protect it from one elemental or physical attack. Once hit, the shield will disappear. If an opponent Pokémon makes physical contact with the Ice Barrier, there is a 10% chance of it being inflicted with the condition “frozen”. One use only per battle. Only Ice Types can learn this move.

The stagnant hull loomed over the pair, infinitely. Its vast shadow overtook theirs, engulfing their bodies in endless shade. The enormous expanse of the structure held their gaze for seemingly forever. Its size was one thing that could not be defeated by age, no matter how long the years progressed. Time was measured accurately by the seaweed cultivating all over its surface, slowly claiming the neglected craft as part of the ocean itself. The ships’s colossal volume bulged underneath its confines in prodigious defiance, the empty vessel could provide home to a small pod of Wailord and still have enough room to spare for a family of Steelix.

Water flowed to the wall, to a hole in the wall. A wide fault opened in the vessel’s hollow beside a rusted ladder, swallowing mouthfuls of ocean in great gulps. Through the window, Jess could spy a room, partially leveled with water. A door remained above the surface at one end, beckoning on corroded hinges for visitors to explore. Beyond the door, untold secrets lay.

A voice overhead. Overheard, rather. The sound directed her attention upwards, towards the slanted, collapsed deck. Could there possibly be survivors? No, the notion was unfeasible. The most probable explanation was that another intrepid explorer had chanced on the wreckage, or the craft was in reality still in use, perhaps as a hideout for some unlawful purpose. The latter idea was also fanciful, though not necessarily far-off. Most likely the former, however some doubt lingered in her mind, especially as Tess nudged her trainer gently. She seemed anxious to enter the hollow, not so much out of an eagerness to explore, but rather owing to an apprehension of discovery by the unknown presence. Her grey eyes were clouded with wariness and fear, her silent gaze pleaded with the girl to depart from the deck’s view. Jessica nodded. She felt nervous as well. This perhaps explained their prior sense of foreboding, and in that case hiding would clearly provide the best option for now until the coast was clear.

They were about to try and enter stealthily when a candid word from above – two in fact, stopped the pair cold. “Lapras Hunt.” The girl felt warmth drain from her Lapras’s smooth, reptile skin. Her song was tacit, still. Jessica placed her hand on Tessie’s neck, consoling her, and at the same time preventing her escape. She drew her face close to the side of the Lapras’s head, whispering into her ear.

“Wait. Let’s not go in yet. This sounds like it could be important.”

A tuneless, disconcerted harmony of agreement. Jess glanced around, wondering how to conceal themselves from sight. An idea occurred to her, and she tapped Tess’s ear again to reaffirm the Lapras’s full attention.

“Surround us in a thick MIST. Then, try to get as close to the voices as possible so we can hear what they’re saying. If you sense any form of possible danger, quickly swim inside the ship. If we’re spotted or attacked, use ICE BARRIER. When there’s an opportunity to escape, SURF away as fast as you can.”

Ampere Beach: A beautiful beach that borders almost all of the peninsula, Ampere Beach is a lengthy stretch of silvery sand with a very small electric charge that is soothing to the body, and many holiday makers can be found here. The tourists always like guides of the local area, so this beach is the first stop for anyone wanting to explore the island, at prices debatable. Many water pokemon swim in the warm seas around the beach, the small electrical field being a benefit to their limbs, and some land-based pokemon are often located here, relaxing on the shores. Ampere Beach is also home to the best ice cream in the land, with the family factory located a few hundred metres from the beach.

Arcanum shut his eyes as the cool, electric breeze sifted sand between his long locks of black hair. His Trapinch mimicked his trainer by closing his eyes and tilting his head back with a smile, shaking his head back and forth like Arcanum despite how non-existent his hair was. Arcanum and his Trapinch, Adam, have been in urban and suburban areas for a while now. Both of them are wearing the most enormous grins that reveal how happy they are to be on such a beautiful beach. However, if that wasn't proof enough, perhaps what Arcanum does next is a testament to how wonderful he feels to be off the boat and on the beautiful beach: he struggles to quickly ditch his shoes and drops his backpack on the sand with complete disregard to its contents, running barefoot laughing in to the water. A little note about Arcanum, since his father had passed away he had rarely been happy, and this level of gaiety was surely rare. His Trapinch was certainly surprised at these immense emotions, but rather than looking puzzled was enjoying seeing his trainer so full of glee. Adam bounded in to the water after Arcanum and jumped in to his soaking wet t-shirt, dunking his hair so it looked like a wet mop when it surfaced again. "Adam, we're gonna have so much fun on this beach!" Arcanum announced to his Trapinch's delight. The two played in the water and wet sand for more than an hour before falling asleep in the bright mid-day sun.

EDIT: Am I too late to be included? If so, just PM me or something and I'll delete this post. I assumed there were 4 people being updated before I started this post, and now I count Rakurai as number 5. *Apologies!*

I'd like to welcome Centin, Rakurai and Arcanumghost to Laguna Peninsula and my group, filling it to six. I'll make a leeway here this time, but now the zone is officially capped.

Raku and Arcanum, your replies will come next round. I'll also apologise for the lengthy wait, but you know SPPfail, eh?

Seaside City

Amras: As your charitable side takes note of the woman and the situation, you release your Pikachu into the fray to aid in dispersing the birds. As you state your attacks, you approach the woman who notices you and your Pikachu heading closer to the flock as she seems to give a slight sigh of relief before ducking hastily as another Murkrow divebombs at her, missing and instead smacking into a nearby lamppost with a loud CLANG!, clearly knocking it out.

As the woman watches above, reading your expression, a vicious plume of electricity blasts up from Java as about a dozen Murkrow fall down, unconscious or paralyzed beyond battling from the thunder, as Persian purrs admirably as a pair of the crows get too close and are struck down by a sudden slash from the Class Cat pokemon.

“Lately the city has been having problems with the wild Pokémon going out of whack, and well, just look for yourself. These Murkrow normally feed off scraps and dumps here and there, but they’ve never had the courage to actually steal from stores and stalls,” she explains with some melancholy before a hiss from her Persian makes her look up at the flock, which has dispersed by a great deal, with only a dozen birds left.

“Well, that’s a good sign.”

As she manages a smile, a shadow passes overhead and before Java and Persian can act a pulse of dark energy strikes both of them from the sky, as the stall owner’s legs turn to jelly and he points at the source of the attack as your Pikachu and the Persian get up before the Honchkrow lands on a nearby lamppost, pointing his wing towards you and the woman and giving a low caw as six of the remaining Murkrow start to flap towards you, while the rest prepare to strike your Pokémon...

Ampere Beach

Shadow: With the current situation, you realise that even if the lad didn’t know much about Staryu, his life is in danger and you have no concrete method of keeping him safe. As it is, however, your team knows a few moves that could help in the scenario as you relay the plans to Mango and Zapster. As the shark continues to circle the pertified boy, Zapster runs into the water and with a burst of speed attacks the Sharpedo quickly as it is about to sink its fangs into soft human, the surprise hit from the Thunderbolt Pokémon knocking him off course as the Electivire finds himself waist-deep in water, slowing him down a tad bit and as Sharpedo turns around hastily, water billowing from behind it, the shark jets into Zapster, knocking back with aquatic energy, before Mango finishes concentrating her psychic energy into distorting the dimensions around the area with a trick room manoeuvre.

With the warping of space, Sharpedo finds himself cruising from ‘Speedboat’ to ‘Sinking Titanic’ as Zapster finds the weight of the water on him as less of a burden, as the boy stays put. Ignoring Zapster, Sharpedo makes a move for him again and is about to chomp down on him when Mango, using her boosted speed in the distortion, grabs the boy and makes a swift u-turn, twatting the shark with her tail for good measure before wincing slightly as the rough skin on the shark scratches the tail. With the boy out of harm’s way, Zapster quickly wades to the seething shark and socks him with a thunderpunch, the static strike jolting the shark for a great deal of pain as it unleashes an ear-splitting screech that has Zapster holding his poor head in pain, before giving a pained yelp as Sharpedo decides that Electivire would be a more substantial mean andcrunches on his arm, blood seeping from it and as the shark’s eyes dilate into pure bloodlust, Zapster finds himself in major trouble as the warped area fades out and Mango, having reached shore, gasps in horror at her friend in danger as the boy gets up and calls to his Starmie, the Starshape Pokémon floating to him before he notices Zapster in a spate of danger, and nods to the starfish as it fires a small number of electrical tendrils that wrap around Sharpedo, the thunder wave making it let go in a sudden yelp and giving Zapster a small energy boost from his motor drive ability as Sharpedo swims a little distance and starts to give the same familiar glow as it looks towards Zapster, bloody murder in his eyes...

Energos Quarry

Centin: You feel drawn to the Energos Quarry, somewhat wondering why you were at a place like this over a river, searching for adventure. As you release your Whiscash, Skarsvalg, who is strangely joyful, as you head towards the quarry itself, the fish Pokémon flopping his way with you, presumably to help seek out the treasures. As the two of you enter the quarry, you look around at the huge number of machines in the area, seemingly abandoned as the mechanical monstrosities litter the region like blisters in a cracker. The ground itself seemed to spark with strange energy, which seemed to aggravate Skarsvalg’s current joy as he flopped about in joy.

A few seconds later, a rumbling sound is heard as Skarsvalg stops flopping in curiosity, and before you know it, the ground beneath you cracks and you feel yourself standing in midair as you and Skarsvalg fall down the crevice that has appeared! You land somewhat clumsily below, and somehow retain consciousness, before looking around yourself and notice a few blue metallic rocks embedded in the area. Curious, Skarsvalg heads over to one before touching it with his whisker, and as you watch, a blue spark seems to run from it to him, sending the Whiscash into a proverbial sugar rush as he flops around excitedly, causing tremors as you fall on your arse from the shockwaves which emanate from him for a short time before he stops as hastily, namely at the metallic voice that has rang out from the gloom beyond.

“HALT! WHO DARES DISTURB THE CHAMBERS OF THE EMPEROR?”

As Skarsvalg flops back to you in surprise, you look towards the darkness to see a large red nose emerge from it, the eyes of the Probopass seemingly irked rather than angry as it stares at you and Skarsvalg, before they open up fully.

“HUMAN? HERE? THIS SEEMS ILLOGICAL. YOU ARE NOT HERE FOR ANY PURPOSE OTHER THAN YOUR OWN FINANCIAL GAIN! EGRESS AT ONCE OR ONE SHALL HAVE TO APPREHEND YOU IN THE NAME OF EMPEROR TESLA!”

As you watch, the Probopass slowly advances towards you, having lifted itself off the ground with magnet rise.

Amras: As your charitable side takes note of the woman and the situation, you release your Pikachu into the fray to aid in dispersing the birds. As you state your attacks, you approach the woman who notices you and your Pikachu heading closer to the flock as she seems to give a slight sigh of relief before ducking hastily as another Murkrow divebombs at her, missing and instead smacking into a nearby lamppost with a loud CLANG!, clearly knocking it out.

As the woman watches above, reading your expression, a vicious plume of electricity blasts up from Java as about a dozen Murkrow fall down, unconscious or paralyzed beyond battling from the thunder, as Persian purrs admirably as a pair of the crows get too close and are struck down by a sudden slash from the Class Cat pokemon.

“Lately the city has been having problems with the wild Pokémon going out of whack, and well, just look for yourself. These Murkrow normally feed off scraps and dumps here and there, but they’ve never had the courage to actually steal from stores and stalls,” she explains with some melancholy before a hiss from her Persian makes her look up at the flock, which has dispersed by a great deal, with only a dozen birds left.

“Well, that’s a good sign.”

As she manages a smile, a shadow passes overhead and before Java and Persian can act a pulse of dark energy strikes both of them from the sky, as the stall owner’s legs turn to jelly and he points at the source of the attack as your Pikachu and the Persian get up before the Honchkrow lands on a nearby lamppost, pointing his wing towards you and the woman and giving a low caw as six of the remaining Murkrow start to flap towards you, while the rest prepare to strike your Pokémon...

Amras' attack plan works well, Java quickly summoning up a massive Thunder and dropping a dozen Murkrow in one fell blow. Finding a pause in attacks to talk to the girl, Amras learns that the wild Pokemon have been getting more bold lately, and that they have started targeting stores and stall more lately. A Dark Pulse from a Honchkrow throws Pikachu and Persian back for a second but both quickly jump onto their feet, Java's eyes tracking the massive bird. Amras notices that a few Murkrow are headed towards him and the girl, and he pulls out a Psychic Ball, releasing Idrial the Gardevoir.

"Alright ma'am, I have an idea of how to proceed with this, if you're willing to work with me. I think that Java should take on the Honchkrow, since her electrical attacks will be super effective against it, while Persian and my Gardevoir take out the Murkrow that stay near the Honchkrow. My Gardevoir is very fast, so she shouldn't have a problem with using a Shockwave on those Murkrow before using Icy Wind on the ones coming towards us."

"Java, blast it with a couple of Thunderbolts, and if it gets near you use Ice Punch! Idrial, I need you to help Persian take care of half the Murkrows with a fast Shockwave, but be ready to cut that off if you need to in order to use Icy Wind on the other Murkow coming towards myself and the lady!"

"Oh, and ma'am, I never got your name. I'm Amras, and I'm a Pokemon Trainer. Who are you?"

Rakurai: You arrive on Ampere Beach with your Electrike Kiba and your young Charmander Flandre seeking a relaxing day with them, having heard of the beach. As Kiba and Flandre enjoy the weather and atmosphere, the excitement between them and you is evident as a couple of holidaymakers give small glances your way. After about twenty minutes of walking, you find yourself outside a small shack with a few anglers dotted at the shoreline, with some of their own Pokémon. Flandre finds herself somewhat curious as to the congregation as she trots to a nearby Poliwag and starts to converse with the tadpole, who seems a little puzzled as to her existence on the beach.

“Ahoy there, lad!”

You turn to the shack to see a swarthy man in his mid forties standing outside the shack with a few tools, and a life jacket, but the unnerving thing about him is his lack of a left arm, a meaty stump being all that was left of it. Kiba seems a little nervous around him as the Poliwag gives a cheerful squeak and nuzzles up to her owner as Flandre returns to you, looking perplexed at the one armed man.

“I’ve noticed that ye seem to be alone with yer Pokémon right now, probably on a small holiday. The name’s Andrew, and I run this here shack. Right now we’ve received word of a small pod of water Pokémon being lost, and I was just about to go help them out. If ye want, ye can come along for the ride, we can use the help.”

As you wonder about his offer, a Machoke and Ludicolo poke their heads through the shack windows with grins on their faces, while a small Wingull glides down from the roof onto Andrew’s shoulder. Clearly he must be a sailor, and if a boat trip seems your thing, you can join him on the trip.

What will you do?

=-=-=-=

Arcanum: You show signs of intense excitement in spite of your general lack of joy ever since your father’s death as you head off to the waters of Ampere beach, your Trapinch following you as you remove your shoes and backpack before barrelling into you, drenching you thoroughly in the water as you exclaim your plans for excitement on the beach. An hour later, you and Adam doze off in the sun, like so many other holidaymakers out there, your plans for an exciting day solidified.

You wake up a couple of hours later to the nudging of Adam’s head as he gives a grunt, and as you rise, you find yourself on the beach, albeit a relatively empty section of it. As you wonder where everyone has gone, you look out towards the ocean to see a rather large foaming object in the distance. It is the work of a second before you realise exactly what it is and where everyone went: They have run away from a freak wave! As you stumble awkwardly to your feet, grabbing your shoes, backpack and Adam, you have enough time to register the sudden impact of several hundred pounds of water land on top of you before the world blacks out.

-=-=-

It is an unknown amount of time before you awaken, and find yourself inexplicably in a rather dark tunnel with small crystals providing the only light source. As you realise you’re still alive, you start to panic as you realise Adam isn’t with you, before a familiar barking sound is heard as the Trapinch comes out from around the corner to greet you, happy to see you still with him, before turning towards the corner as you find yourself face to face with a sleepy-looking beaver in front of you. As the Bibarel notices you, it scratches its head before beckoning you to follow him. Looking behind you, you see nothing but some rather dark and murky waters, as though it would swallow you, and you don’t really seem to have much choice but to follow the beaver.

What will you do?

S.S. Lanturn Wreck

Lilblue: As you prepare to enter, the sound of the words “Lapras Hunt” naturally unnerves your own one as Tessie becomes suddenly fearful. As you decide to try and eavesdrop, you decide it best to stay hidden and as you whisper your orders, Tessie breathes forth a thick mist to conceal you. After a few seconds, you find yourself very thick in the substance as you sneak closer to the voices and listen out.

“I know, Leo. We may be part of the Cult, but even the Master draws the line at such tasks as that. Nobody should ever harm any Pokémon, water or not.”

“Yes, but it will be said that the goons somewhere in the ship have a small hold full of the shells of the creatures, which would sell for millions, as our spy tells us.”

“Nevertheless, the Master has ordered us to attack anyone who would hurt a Pokémon so close to extinction. Indeed, the Master’s own Leviathan is becoming rather perky with these hunts going on out there.”

The voices above you seem rather safe as Tessie warms up a little, but the two of you go stiff as you hear a telepathic voice in your head speak out.

“Leo and Vito know that you are down there, miss, don’t try and hide it.”

As you try and stay silent, a muffled bang emanates from somewhere and as Tessie gives a curious look to you, she releases a heart-wrenching screech of sudden shock, her rear flipper rising out of the water momentarily as you catch the horrific sight of a three-foot harpoon sticking out of it, blood slowly trickling from the wound. As you look out at the ocean, the mist dissipates suddenly as you look up at the Penguin above you and the head of one of the men, a crescent symbol on his headband as he looks down at you, calling out for you to duck as you and Tessie narrowly avoid having your heads skewered by another harpoon. As you turn around, you notice a small trawler with the sickening sight of a slain Lapras on board, the head ripped halfway off and blood making your stomach turn, before noticing the makeshift ballista on the portside of it, aiming your way.

“Stinger, blast the boat with your ice beam! Miss, your Lapras and you are in grave danger, and these hunters will stop at nothing until they have your friend’s carcass on board rotting with their other one. If you can head over to the lift over there, my colleague will help get you both out of there, but it won’t be easy with these poachers. If you have anything capable of putting that gun out of commission, do so: It will be the best option you have of surviving.”

As the man points towards a reconstructed rig large enough for Tessie to get aboard, another harpoon flies mere inches from Tessie’s wounded limb, and you realise that if you linger, you may not get away alive...

Shadow: With the current situation, you realise that even if the lad didn’t know much about Staryu, his life is in danger and you have no concrete method of keeping him safe. As it is, however, your team knows a few moves that could help in the scenario as you relay the plans to Mango and Zapster. As the shark continues to circle the pertified boy, Zapster runs into the water and with a burst of speed attacks the Sharpedo quickly as it is about to sink its fangs into soft human, the surprise hit from the Thunderbolt Pokémon knocking him off course as the Electivire finds himself waist-deep in water, slowing him down a tad bit and as Sharpedo turns around hastily, water billowing from behind it, the shark jets into Zapster, knocking back with aquatic energy, before Mango finishes concentrating her psychic energy into distorting the dimensions around the area with a trick room manoeuvre.

With the warping of space, Sharpedo finds himself cruising from ‘Speedboat’ to ‘Sinking Titanic’ as Zapster finds the weight of the water on him as less of a burden, as the boy stays put. Ignoring Zapster, Sharpedo makes a move for him again and is about to chomp down on him when Mango, using her boosted speed in the distortion, grabs the boy and makes a swift u-turn, twatting the shark with her tail for good measure before wincing slightly as the rough skin on the shark scratches the tail. With the boy out of harm’s way, Zapster quickly wades to the seething shark and socks him with a thunderpunch, the static strike jolting the shark for a great deal of pain as it unleashes an ear-splitting screech that has Zapster holding his poor head in pain, before giving a pained yelp as Sharpedo decides that Electivire would be a more substantial mean andcrunches on his arm, blood seeping from it and as the shark’s eyes dilate into pure bloodlust, Zapster finds himself in major trouble as the warped area fades out and Mango, having reached shore, gasps in horror at her friend in danger as the boy gets up and calls to his Starmie, the Starshape Pokémon floating to him before he notices Zapster in a spate of danger, and nods to the starfish as it fires a small number of electrical tendrils that wrap around Sharpedo, the thunder wave making it let go in a sudden yelp and giving Zapster a small energy boost from his motor drive ability as Sharpedo swims a little distance and starts to give the same familiar glow as it looks towards Zapster, bloody murder in his eyes...

With the boy seeming to join in the match, Shadow felt a weight lift off his mental shoulders. While current events appeared to have been going his way so far, Sharpedo was proving to be a tougher opponent than he surmised, in spite of Zapster's initial elemental advantage. Now with the assistance of an unlikely ally, the pursuit of the original quest and overcoming of this present obstacle could both be accelerated. Introductions and expressions of gratitude would have to come later, though, before Sharpedo made mincemeat out of the Electivire for the main course.

"Barrier up, Zapster! Let it come and crash against your defensive wall!" he called. "Then Signal Beam it at close range, and Thunderbolt while it's disoriented!"

Lilblue: As you prepare to enter, the sound of the words “Lapras Hunt” naturally unnerves your own one as Tessie becomes suddenly fearful. As you decide to try and eavesdrop, you decide it best to stay hidden and as you whisper your orders, Tessie breathes forth a thick mist to conceal you. After a few seconds, you find yourself very thick in the substance as you sneak closer to the voices and listen out.

“I know, Leo. We may be part of the Cult, but even the Master draws the line at such tasks as that. Nobody should ever harm any Pokémon, water or not.”

“Yes, but it will be said that the goons somewhere in the ship have a small hold full of the shells of the creatures, which would sell for millions, as our spy tells us.”

“Nevertheless, the Master has ordered us to attack anyone who would hurt a Pokémon so close to extinction. Indeed, the Master’s own Leviathan is becoming rather perky with these hunts going on out there.”

The voices above you seem rather safe as Tessie warms up a little, but the two of you go stiff as you hear a telepathic voice in your head speak out.

“Leo and Vito know that you are down there, miss, don’t try and hide it.”

As you try and stay silent, a muffled bang emanates from somewhere and as Tessie gives a curious look to you, she releases a heart-wrenching screech of sudden shock, her rear flipper rising out of the water momentarily as you catch the horrific sight of a three-foot harpoon sticking out of it, blood slowly trickling from the wound. As you look out at the ocean, the mist dissipates suddenly as you look up at the Penguin above you and the head of one of the men, a crescent symbol on his headband as he looks down at you, calling out for you to duck as you and Tessie narrowly avoid having your heads skewered by another harpoon. As you turn around, you notice a small trawler with the sickening sight of a slain Lapras on board, the head ripped halfway off and blood making your stomach turn, before noticing the makeshift ballista on the portside of it, aiming your way.

“Stinger, blast the boat with your ice beam! Miss, your Lapras and you are in grave danger, and these hunters will stop at nothing until they have your friend’s carcass on board rotting with their other one. If you can head over to the lift over there, my colleague will help get you both out of there, but it won’t be easy with these poachers. If you have anything capable of putting that gun out of commission, do so: It will be the best option you have of surviving.”

As the man points towards a reconstructed rig large enough for Tessie to get aboard, another harpoon flies mere inches from Tessie’s wounded limb, and you realise that if you linger, you may not get away alive...

Mist flowed like moist serpents and tangled the two silently, a darkening, damp cloak. Veiled, they drifted closer to the voices, muted and uncertain, hanging cautiously in the air above them.

“I know, Leo. We may be part of the Cult, but even the Master draws the line at such tasks as that. Nobody should ever harm any Pokémon, water or not.”

“Yes, but it will be said that the goons somewhere in the ship have a small hold full of the shells of the creatures, which would sell for millions, as our spy tells us.”

“Nevertheless, the Master has ordered us to attack anyone who would hurt a Pokémon so close to extinction. Indeed, the Master’s own Leviathan is becoming rather perky with these hunts going on out there.”

The trainer’s hands sensed her Pokémon’s shell slowly relax, and warmth gradually return to the Lapras’s skin. She heard a soft, tranquil chime inside her heart. It was safe and calm.

“Leo and Vito know that you are down there, miss, don’t try and hide it.”

A voice spoke inside her head. She stiffened, drawing the Lapras’s attention. They glanced around, searching for others.

A muffled bang from somewhere. A shrill note pierced the air, and she looked down. There, in Tessie’s rear flipper, was the tail of a three-foot harpoon projecting from her hide, blood oozing like magma into the water and dispersing in thin trails like a can of worms. Her eyes stared at the missile, embedded deep in the creature’s flesh, unable to comprehend what had just happened. More like a trance, she raised her gaze towards the ocean, as the fog suddenly lifted in response to grant her sight. Her eyes continued upwards: there was a bird, and the head of one of the men. A crescent symbol was printed on the band wrapped around his forehead. He was calling something out to her. What was the urgent word his lips were forming?

“Duck!”

He cried, desperately. Just in time, the two hurriedly obeyed. A harpoon sailed over their heads, missing the girl’s brown hair by a few degrees. She turned towards the direction the shot was fired from, disbelieving. A medium distance away, a small trawler floated in the ocean. Its size wasn’t important. What commanded her attention was, instead, the horrifying display of a slain Lapras on board. Its head dangled in defeat, blood spilling over the side in such copious amounts that Jess felt like she would vomit. Unable to focus on the image any longer, she shifted her gaze and noticed the makeshift ballista on its portside, aiming in their direction. Was it aiming at her?

“Stinger, blast the boat with your ICE BEAM! Miss, your Lapras and you are in grave danger, and these hunters will stop at nothing until they have your friend’s carcass on board rotting with their other one. If you can head over to the lift over there, my colleague will help get you both out of there, but it won’t be easy with these poachers. If you have anything capable of putting that gun out of commission, do so: It will be the best option you have of surviving.”

The man overhead pointed towards a reconstructed rig, large enough, or perhaps built, to support a Lapras’s weight. Just then, another harpoon struck the water close by, only a couple inches away from puncturing Tessie’s limb a second time. The sound of the impact with the sea, indifferently splitting the calm surface, called the girl’s full comprehension to what was going on at last.

“Damnit! These *******s don’t care if they kill a human either, huh? What the hell, are these guys completely insane?!”

The taste of rage filled her mouth, erupting from her tongue in an astonishing series of curses, as her anger surprisingly tends to do (though rarely in the presence of others). There wasn’t time to be angry though. She realized that in an instant, and stilled her wrath. First of all, she needed to get Tess to safety. She placed a trembling, though reassuring hand on her Pokémon’s cold neck, sensing the creature’s fear and pain. Her hand clenched slightly, then relaxed. For God’s sake, she was still just a baby. How on earth could this have happened?

“Tess, can you swim?”

The young Lapras was wild with anguish and terror, but she managed a slight, affirming tone. The girl held her hands just over the surface of Tessie’s shuddering backside, feeling the shivering vibrations, increasing with agony. She couldn’t make it by herself. No way.

“Bobble, SAFEGUARD!”

The blue Wynaut emerged, instantly spreading a dome of defending light around the group, slightly pushing back the water itself. They were protected for now, but the shield wouldn’t last them long. Already Bobble’s expression showed signs of exertion from the generous expansion of the barrier. Jessica drew two more Pokéballs, releasing their contents in synchronized white flares of light.

“Custard, QUICK ATTACK to get close to the small ship, and attack the gun with your most destructive PRESENTs and EGG BOMBs! Haruki, get behind Tess and help push her towards the rig with your STRENGTH! Hurry, we don’t have much time!”

The Delibird and Corsola nodded, moving quickly into position. Jessica’s hand hovered comfortingly beside her friend’s ear, as she listened to the creature’s quiet symphony of pain. The nervous rhythm fluently matched the loud, rapid beating of the girl’s heart. The accompanying music was soft and suppressed. Pianissimo.

Arcanum: You show signs of intense excitement in spite of your general lack of joy ever since your father’s death as you head off to the waters of Ampere beach, your Trapinch following you as you remove your shoes and backpack before barrelling into you, drenching you thoroughly in the water as you exclaim your plans for excitement on the beach. An hour later, you and Adam doze off in the sun, like so many other holidaymakers out there, your plans for an exciting day solidified.

You wake up a couple of hours later to the nudging of Adam’s head as he gives a grunt, and as you rise, you find yourself on the beach, albeit a relatively empty section of it. As you wonder where everyone has gone, you look out towards the ocean to see a rather large foaming object in the distance. It is the work of a second before you realise exactly what it is and where everyone went: They have run away from a freak wave! As you stumble awkwardly to your feet, grabbing your shoes, backpack and Adam, you have enough time to register the sudden impact of several hundred pounds of water land on top of you before the world blacks out.

-=-=-

It is an unknown amount of time before you awaken, and find yourself inexplicably in a rather dark tunnel with small crystals providing the only light source. As you realise you’re still alive, you start to panic as you realise Adam isn’t with you, before a familiar barking sound is heard as the Trapinch comes out from around the corner to greet you, happy to see you still with him, before turning towards the corner as you find yourself face to face with a sleepy-looking beaver in front of you. As the Bibarel notices you, it scratches its head before beckoning you to follow him. Looking behind you, you see nothing but some rather dark and murky waters, as though it would swallow you, and you don’t really seem to have much choice but to follow the beaver.

What will you do?

Arcanum felt the nudging of his Trapinch against his cheek, but it took him a few seconds to realize it was Adam trying to wake him up. Not because Arcanum was usually so slow, but because he had fallen in to a very deep sleep after he had played in the water with his Trapinch for a few hours. Blinking at the harsh rays of sunlight shining down, Arcanum gave grunts of his own as he sat up, sand still sticking to the part of his shirt that hadn't gotten a chance to dry. Upon actually opening his eyes, Arcanum realized he was all alone with Adam on the beach now. Where'd everybody go? Arcanum thought, hoping he wasn't missing out on something exciting going on elsewhere. It was at that moment that Arcanum saw something in the salty waters... and it looked to him like white foam.

"Uh-oh," Arcanum said aloud, "Adam, we have to get out of here now!" Arcanum had realized he wasn't at all missing out on all the excitement, but if he didn't move quickly he could be unfortunate enough to be included in it. There wasn't nearly enough time though. As soon as Arcanum had stumbled to his feet, bent over to grab his shoes and his backpack, he was staring at the wall of water that would be ruining the beautiful serenity of Amphere beach in his mind forever. A crushing force came from the front, and immediately another from the back. Darkness quickly swallowed Arcanum's mind. If he hadn't lost consciousness, the only things he could have seen in the thick water was Adam, who also was brutally knocked out by the immense wave.

Waking up this second time is far less pleasant of an experience. Arcanum's head - no, his whole body - hurt immensely. As he opened his eyes, he was alarmed to see a ceiling and realized he wasn't on the sandy beach anymore. Little crystals lit the dark tunnel, and the ground is a soft dirt. Arcanum reached back to touch his head, which hurt significantly more than the rest of his body, and felt both pain and warm blood at the same time. It wasn't a life-threatening cut by any means, but Arcanum felt his stomach lurch at the thought of an open wound at his head. As the shock of still being alive faded, Arcanum's eyes opened wide as the significance of the lonely feeling sunk in.

"Adam? Adam, where are you?!" Arcanum exclaimed as he realized his companion wasn't in sight. Sitting up now, Arcanum couldn't see his shoes either; only his backpack was still attached to him, and even that looked like it had been heavily used for years while he was asleep. The left strap had broken in two. Struggling, he rose to his feet and carefully passed the single remaining strap of his backpack over the cut so that it went across his body.

The Trapinch was barking down the tunnel towards Arcanum moments later however, and a great relief passed over him. Adam didn't stay long however, instead running off in the opposite direction and returning a quarter minute later with a large beaver. Reaching in to his pocket, Arcanum procured his pokédex. Opening it was futile though, as the power button did nothing. After some rummaging around, his old Children's Pokémon Encyclopedia revealed this was a Bibarel. After scratching his head and peering at Arcanum for a few seconds, the Bibarel beckoned the trainer to follow it in to the tunnel. Looking over his shoulder, the only other option available seemed to be murky and mysterious water that didn't look safe to touch. Reaching up on the wall of the tunnel, Arcanum grabbed one of the fluorescent crystals and pulled hard in the hopes of dislodging it and using it as a light source just in case he needed it. Adam was barking impatiently at Arcanum again, and the Bibarel turned his head slowly from the Trapinch to its trainer, waiting to see what they would do.

"I guess we can't go back in the water. Go ahead and lead the way," Arcanum said to the two pokémon. Arcanum began walking alongside Adam away from the disturbing water, wondering what the Bibarel could possibly be wanting to show him.

Rakurai: You arrive on Ampere Beach with your Electrike Kiba and your young Charmander Flandre seeking a relaxing day with them, having heard of the beach. As Kiba and Flandre enjoy the weather and atmosphere, the excitement between them and you is evident as a couple of holidaymakers give small glances your way. After about twenty minutes of walking, you find yourself outside a small shack with a few anglers dotted at the shoreline, with some of their own Pok&#233;mon. Flandre finds herself somewhat curious as to the congregation as she trots to a nearby Poliwag and starts to converse with the tadpole, who seems a little puzzled as to her existence on the beach.

“Ahoy there, lad!”

You turn to the shack to see a swarthy man in his mid forties standing outside the shack with a few tools, and a life jacket, but the unnerving thing about him is his lack of a left arm, a meaty stump being all that was left of it. Kiba seems a little nervous around him as the Poliwag gives a cheerful squeak and nuzzles up to her owner as Flandre returns to you, looking perplexed at the one armed man.

“I’ve noticed that ye seem to be alone with yer Pok&#233;mon right now, probably on a small holiday. The name’s Andrew, and I run this here shack. Right now we’ve received word of a small pod of water Pok&#233;mon being lost, and I was just about to go help them out. If ye want, ye can come along for the ride, we can use the help.”

As you wonder about his offer, a Machoke and Ludicolo poke their heads through the shack windows with grins on their faces, while a small Wingull glides down from the roof onto Andrew’s shoulder. Clearly he must be a sailor, and if a boat trip seems your thing, you can join him on the trip.

What will you do?

Katsu didn't take his eyes off of Flandre for more then a few seconds at a time, being fully aware of the fact that her curiosity often caused her to wander. He knew it would only be a matter of time before she saw something she found particularly interesting, and headed off on her own for the sake of learning more about it. In this case, it was a Poliwag, who seemed rather bewildered about the presence of a fire Pokemon at a locale like the beach. Before the Charmander could get much of a conversation going, though, the tadpole ran to its trainer, who had come out to greet the unexpected guests.

“Ahoy there, lad!”, said the man, which quickly got the attention of Katsu and his two Pokemon. The first thing all three of them had noticed about him was his rather conspicuous lack of a left arm, which instantly had Katsu pondering over how it could've been lost, though he had averted his gaze, thinking the man might be sensitive about it. As for Kiba and Flandre, they didn't seem to think the same way, for their eyes were glued to the sight, with the former looking rather unnerved by it, and the latter seeming more confused then anything else.

Following his greeting, the man proceeded introduce himself as Andrew, and posed an interesting offer to Katsu, which the trainer considered without hesitation, as he had begun to grow bored of walking around aimlessly.

"A trip out to sea to help some Pokemon? That certainly sounds more exciting then wandering around the beach all day, and I bet any help is better then nothing for this guy, considering his lack of an arm."

Having made his decision, Katsu spoke up, though upon noticing that his two Pokemon were still staring at Andrew's missing arm, he tapped both of them with his foot for the sake of letting them know that he thought what they were doing was a little rude.

"I'd be glad to go along for the ride, and I'm sure these two would love to go as, well.", he said, with both of his companions voicing their approval shortly after.

"My name is Katsu, and this is my Electrike, Kiba, and my Charmander, Flandre. We'll do whatever we can to help, so just give us the word."

Shadow: With the boy safe and Zapster facing up to a rather irked shark, you call out to the Electivire stating to work on the defensive. Concentrating in spite of the pain in his arm, Zapster erects a shimmering barrier before him just as Sharpedo blitzes forward with the skull bash and as you wonder if the barrier will hold against the attack, a loud crack echoes throughout the beach as Sharpedo drifts back a few metres as the barrier crumbles before the assault, Zapster seeming tired yet pleased that the defences held as he wades to the shark and unleashes a signal beam at close range as the shark opens his mouth to chomp down on the Thunderbolt Pokémon, the insectoid energy causing discomfort for the fish as Zapster winces at the crunch the shark gave to him. Swimming back, Sharpedo then focuses energy into his teeth once more as the air chills around him, and as Zapster takes it as do or die, the sudden aqua jet from his flank causes him to lapse in concentration leaving his shoulder open for the ice fang to connect, a pained screech emanating from the Electivire as you look towards the crafty Carvanha behind him, rather annoyed at the dirty double act.

The vision of the same piranha getting struck by a rapidly spinning Starmie, however, adds relief to you as Sharpedo releases his grip on Zapster, who seems in great pain as his wounds slowly drip blood, but he turns around and with Starmie by his side offloads a thunderbolt at the carnivores, the smaller one floating to the surface as Sharpedo roars loudly and thrashes in pain before eventually giving up the ghost and going belly-up beside his little chum. Level up for Zapster.

As you take note of the success, Zapster suddenly drops to his knee as Starmie hastily thrusts itself under him and as he is dragged to shore, you are quick to notice the injuries he has sustained, in spite of his triumphant grin. Kneeling on the beach, he nods in pain as he rises, his arms and shoulder showing wet and matted hair with small incisions from the bites.

“Oh, god, I’m sorry this happened to your Electivire.”

As you turn to the lad, you notice him with a small bottle with orange-tinted liquid inside as he heads over to Zapster, tears starting to bud in his eyes as he carefully sprays the contents on the Thunderbolt Pokémon’s wounds as you hear footsteps from behind you and notice a rather gruff man in his mid-forties, his eyes seemingly in a persistent frown.

“Jason! I believe I’ve warned you before about heading off into the water without checking the reports. I believe you owe this young man an apology, which I see you’re doing. May I ask what exactly happened here?”

As you notice the simpering lad tend to Zapster’s wounds, it would seem that there’s some explaining to do before you can carry on with your own mission...

-=-=-

Arcanum: Looking around the tunnel, pleased to be reunited with Adam, you head over to one of the crystals on the wall and tug at it, hoping to use it as a light source as your Trapinch shifts slightly, somewhat uneasy as you suddenly feel it come loose, momentum working against you as you land painfully on your arse with a surprisingly loud thump as the Trapinch seems to chuckle to himself. Rising painfully, you nod before the beaver gives a half-hearted smile and leads the way as you and Adam follow him.

The cave ahead seems to snake for a good few hundred metres before you find yourself looking down a small labyrinth of tunnels, and as your heart seems to dip, the Bibarel looks down a tunnel, beckoning you to continue to follow him. As you do, you notice the cave seems to be getting a little narrower as you carry onwards, the crystal you hold giving enough light to see a few feet ahead as you carry onwards. A couple of hours pass as you start to feel a little tired, before the beaver stops outside what seems to be a dead end as you feel your mood crash completely, Adam looking more than a little annoyed. Without a second thought, the Bibarel places a paw on one of the crystals, a hollow chime emanating from it before touching another one, producing a high-pitched chime, before tapping a few more crystals in a manner to make a small tune before a low rumble seems to make your stomach lurch, before it too grumbles in hunger as you realise that you haven’t eaten in a while as Bibarel braces itself for something...

...and the floor you stand on opens up, as the three of you fall down into a long crystal pipe, the beaver seemingly chuckling at the trip before you land comfortably on the floor below, in a rather large chamber. Gazing around in amazement, you see many Pokémon toiling at the walls with the same crystal as you hold, before the Bibarel points you towards an opening as he leads you to another fairly large room, and you come face to face with the most terrifying Luxray you have ever seen, his mane literally sparking with electricity and his eyes in a perpetual glower as he sits beside a rather cheerful-looking Slowking, who rises from his seat.

“Welcome to our realm, traveller. It is a humble place where we keep our worth, and where we wonder exactly what ended our lives in a sudden manner.”

Your eyes rip wide open at the last remark as you and Adam stare at each other in bewilderment: You coudn’t possibly be dead, can you? You panic as you put your hand to your wrist to feel for a pulse, and almost faint from sheer horror when you feel nothing at all.

“I imagine you wonder what keeps you here instead of the world of the deceased, traveller. As fate would have it, this series of caves extends a great distance underneath the Laguna Peninsula, and this crystal has the mystical properties of a life support: Without it, we die, with it, we continue to live. I understand if you are somewhat shocked by these events, but I assure you that you are as dead as we are, and that we exist only thanks to these crystals. If you wish, we may discuss what we do here, and perhaps you may aid us in the way that humans are able to perform acts us Pokémon are incapable of. My accomplice Quasar here will guide you to a room where you can stay for some time, as a sort of accustoming while he can answer your questions.”

As the Luxray steps forward and nods, you follow him through the tunnels while the Bibarel from before heads to a small emerald and places his hand on it as Quasar takes you through to a somewhat small room with a bench and bed, before sitting by the bed and looking at you almost quizzically. If the Slowking’s words are true then you and Adam should be dead, yet you are still walking pretty much alive. As you look into the Luxray’s eyes, however, you notice them to be empty instead of full of life, and as you hold your head in confusion, a low voice from Quasar catches your attention.

“There is a crystal rumoured to exist in these caves with the power to restore life to those who have been lost. If you wish to see the light of day again, then we must work together to find it. As Velos has stated, I am here to answer your questions about these events.”

What will you do?

-=-=-

Seaside City

Amras: Noticing the approaching birds, you send out your Gardevoir Idrial hastily before calling out to Java. As the first of the birds near you, the woman perks up a little before calling out to her Persian.

“Lucrece! Attack them with Swift and your own Shock Waves!”

As the Murkrow dive at your Pokémon, their beaks aglow with energy ready to peck your team to pieces, a sudden barrage of stars spike into them as the Persian, going by the name of Lucrece, launches a swift manoeuvre at them, several of them squawking painfully as they are pelted by the stars with surprising force just before getting shocked by Idrial’s wave attack. As they regain their composure, you look up to see the crows above you, circling dangerously close to you with their wings outspread, before one of them breaks off and rams into you and the woman, the wing attack knocking you to the ground as Idrial turns at your pained shout and immediately releases a chilling gust of icy wind towards the birds, the sextet giving an alarmed screech as they crash down, their wings chilled as they get up groaning and littering the area.

As Java turns to the Big Boss Pokémon, he unleashes a thunderbolt towards it as the Honchkrow grunts in pain from the zapping, before breathing out a wave of heated air, Java gritting his teeth at the fiery move before looking up and being knocked several feet through the air by the diving Honchkrow’s drill peck, landing heaviny on the concrete. Rising with determination, Java launches another thunderbolt, but is too slow as Honchkrow takes flight and avoids it before diving down for another attack, but Java is ready this time as his hands gathers chilling energy and he punches the crow in the beak, ice forming around the area of impact as the Honchkrow’s screech is muffled.

“Nice to meet you, Amras, although not in the best situation...my name is Megan of the Watt family, and Lucrece there is my pride and joy, capable of holding her own pretty well against a Venusaur.”

As you meet your acquaintances, the Murkrow around you start to fly up, only to be knocked flat again by a shock wave coming from Lucrece, whose body shows signs of wear from the relentless specking by the Murkrow. The good news is that the six around you have been quelled, but there are still six circling around you, as well as the angered Honchkrow, who is glaring daggers at Java. As it flaps its wings in an unusual manner, Idrial suddenly comes under a painful assault from three of the Murkrow, their wing attacks knocking her back and forth while Lucrece whines from the barrage of attacks, but still holding strongly as Java rises. It seems that the gloves are officially off of these crows and they mean business.

Shadow: With the boy safe and Zapster facing up to a rather irked shark, you call out to the Electivire stating to work on the defensive. Concentrating in spite of the pain in his arm, Zapster erects a shimmering barrier before him just as Sharpedo blitzes forward with the skull bash and as you wonder if the barrier will hold against the attack, a loud crack echoes throughout the beach as Sharpedo drifts back a few metres as the barrier crumbles before the assault, Zapster seeming tired yet pleased that the defences held as he wades to the shark and unleashes a signal beam at close range as the shark opens his mouth to chomp down on the Thunderbolt Pokémon, the insectoid energy causing discomfort for the fish as Zapster winces at the crunch the shark gave to him. Swimming back, Sharpedo then focuses energy into his teeth once more as the air chills around him, and as Zapster takes it as do or die, the sudden aqua jet from his flank causes him to lapse in concentration leaving his shoulder open for the ice fang to connect, a pained screech emanating from the Electivire as you look towards the crafty Carvanha behind him, rather annoyed at the dirty double act.

The vision of the same piranha getting struck by a rapidly spinning Starmie, however, adds relief to you as Sharpedo releases his grip on Zapster, who seems in great pain as his wounds slowly drip blood, but he turns around and with Starmie by his side offloads a thunderbolt at the carnivores, the smaller one floating to the surface as Sharpedo roars loudly and thrashes in pain before eventually giving up the ghost and going belly-up beside his little chum. Level up for Zapster.

As you take note of the success, Zapster suddenly drops to his knee as Starmie hastily thrusts itself under him and as he is dragged to shore, you are quick to notice the injuries he has sustained, in spite of his triumphant grin. Kneeling on the beach, he nods in pain as he rises, his arms and shoulder showing wet and matted hair with small incisions from the bites.

“Oh, god, I’m sorry this happened to your Electivire.”

As you turn to the lad, you notice him with a small bottle with orange-tinted liquid inside as he heads over to Zapster, tears starting to bud in his eyes as he carefully sprays the contents on the Thunderbolt Pokémon’s wounds as you hear footsteps from behind you and notice a rather gruff man in his mid-forties, his eyes seemingly in a persistent frown.

“Jason! I believe I’ve warned you before about heading off into the water without checking the reports. I believe you owe this young man an apology, which I see you’re doing. May I ask what exactly happened here?”

As you notice the simpering lad tend to Zapster’s wounds, it would seem that there’s some explaining to do before you can carry on with your own mission...

-=-=-

Arcanum: Looking around the tunnel, pleased to be reunited with Adam, you head over to one of the crystals on the wall and tug at it, hoping to use it as a light source as your Trapinch shifts slightly, somewhat uneasy as you suddenly feel it come loose, momentum working against you as you land painfully on your arse with a surprisingly loud thump as the Trapinch seems to chuckle to himself. Rising painfully, you nod before the beaver gives a half-hearted smile and leads the way as you and Adam follow him.

The cave ahead seems to snake for a good few hundred metres before you find yourself looking down a small labyrinth of tunnels, and as your heart seems to dip, the Bibarel looks down a tunnel, beckoning you to continue to follow him. As you do, you notice the cave seems to be getting a little narrower as you carry onwards, the crystal you hold giving enough light to see a few feet ahead as you carry onwards. A couple of hours pass as you start to feel a little tired, before the beaver stops outside what seems to be a dead end as you feel your mood crash completely, Adam looking more than a little annoyed. Without a second thought, the Bibarel places a paw on one of the crystals, a hollow chime emanating from it before touching another one, producing a high-pitched chime, before tapping a few more crystals in a manner to make a small tune before a low rumble seems to make your stomach lurch, before it too grumbles in hunger as you realise that you haven’t eaten in a while as Bibarel braces itself for something...

...and the floor you stand on opens up, as the three of you fall down into a long crystal pipe, the beaver seemingly chuckling at the trip before you land comfortably on the floor below, in a rather large chamber. Gazing around in amazement, you see many Pokémon toiling at the walls with the same crystal as you hold, before the Bibarel points you towards an opening as he leads you to another fairly large room, and you come face to face with the most terrifying Luxray you have ever seen, his mane literally sparking with electricity and his eyes in a perpetual glower as he sits beside a rather cheerful-looking Slowking, who rises from his seat.

“Welcome to our realm, traveller. It is a humble place where we keep our worth, and where we wonder exactly what ended our lives in a sudden manner.”

Your eyes rip wide open at the last remark as you and Adam stare at each other in bewilderment: You coudn’t possibly be dead, can you? You panic as you put your hand to your wrist to feel for a pulse, and almost faint from sheer horror when you feel nothing at all.

“I imagine you wonder what keeps you here instead of the world of the deceased, traveller. As fate would have it, this series of caves extends a great distance underneath the Laguna Peninsula, and this crystal has the mystical properties of a life support: Without it, we die, with it, we continue to live. I understand if you are somewhat shocked by these events, but I assure you that you are as dead as we are, and that we exist only thanks to these crystals. If you wish, we may discuss what we do here, and perhaps you may aid us in the way that humans are able to perform acts us Pokémon are incapable of. My accomplice Quasar here will guide you to a room where you can stay for some time, as a sort of accustoming while he can answer your questions.”

As the Luxray steps forward and nods, you follow him through the tunnels while the Bibarel from before heads to a small emerald and places his hand on it as Quasar takes you through to a somewhat small room with a bench and bed, before sitting by the bed and looking at you almost quizzically. If the Slowking’s words are true then you and Adam should be dead, yet you are still walking pretty much alive. As you look into the Luxray’s eyes, however, you notice them to be empty instead of full of life, and as you hold your head in confusion, a low voice from Quasar catches your attention.

“There is a crystal rumoured to exist in these caves with the power to restore life to those who have been lost. If you wish to see the light of day again, then we must work together to find it. As Velos has stated, I am here to answer your questions about these events.”

What will you do?

-=-=-

Seaside City

Amras: Noticing the approaching birds, you send out your Gardevoir Idrial hastily before calling out to Java. As the first of the birds near you, the woman perks up a little before calling out to her Persian.

“Lucrece! Attack them with Swift and your own Shock Waves!”

As the Murkrow dive at your Pokémon, their beaks aglow with energy ready to peck your team to pieces, a sudden barrage of stars spike into them as the Persian, going by the name of Lucrece, launches a swift manoeuvre at them, several of them squawking painfully as they are pelted by the stars with surprising force just before getting shocked by Idrial’s wave attack. As they regain their composure, you look up to see the crows above you, circling dangerously close to you with their wings outspread, before one of them breaks off and rams into you and the woman, the wing attack knocking you to the ground as Idrial turns at your pained shout and immediately releases a chilling gust of icy wind towards the birds, the sextet giving an alarmed screech as they crash down, their wings chilled as they get up groaning and littering the area.

As Java turns to the Big Boss Pokémon, he unleashes a thunderbolt towards it as the Honchkrow grunts in pain from the zapping, before breathing out a wave of heated air, Java gritting his teeth at the fiery move before looking up and being knocked several feet through the air by the diving Honchkrow’s drill peck, landing heaviny on the concrete. Rising with determination, Java launches another thunderbolt, but is too slow as Honchkrow takes flight and avoids it before diving down for another attack, but Java is ready this time as his hands gathers chilling energy and he punches the crow in the beak, ice forming around the area of impact as the Honchkrow’s screech is muffled.

“Nice to meet you, Amras, although not in the best situation...my name is Megan of the Watt family, and Lucrece there is my pride and joy, capable of holding her own pretty well against a Venusaur.”

As you meet your acquaintances, the Murkrow around you start to fly up, only to be knocked flat again by a shock wave coming from Lucrece, whose body shows signs of wear from the relentless specking by the Murkrow. The good news is that the six around you have been quelled, but there are still six circling around you, as well as the angered Honchkrow, who is glaring daggers at Java. As it flaps its wings in an unusual manner, Idrial suddenly comes under a painful assault from three of the Murkrow, their wing attacks knocking her back and forth while Lucrece whines from the barrage of attacks, but still holding strongly as Java rises. It seems that the gloves are officially off of these crows and they mean business.

Centin: You feel drawn to the Energos Quarry, somewhat wondering why you were at a place like this over a river, searching for adventure. As you release your Whiscash, Skarsvalg, who is strangely joyful, as you head towards the quarry itself, the fish Pokémon flopping his way with you, presumably to help seek out the treasures. As the two of you enter the quarry, you look around at the huge number of machines in the area, seemingly abandoned as the mechanical monstrosities litter the region like blisters in a cracker. The ground itself seemed to spark with strange energy, which seemed to aggravate Skarsvalg’s current joy as he flopped about in joy.

A few seconds later, a rumbling sound is heard as Skarsvalg stops flopping in curiosity, and before you know it, the ground beneath you cracks and you feel yourself standing in midair as you and Skarsvalg fall down the crevice that has appeared! You land somewhat clumsily below, and somehow retain consciousness, before looking around yourself and notice a few blue metallic rocks embedded in the area. Curious, Skarsvalg heads over to one before touching it with his whisker, and as you watch, a blue spark seems to run from it to him, sending the Whiscash into a proverbial sugar rush as he flops around excitedly, causing tremors as you fall on your arse from the shockwaves which emanate from him for a short time before he stops as hastily, namely at the metallic voice that has rang out from the gloom beyond.

“HALT! WHO DARES DISTURB THE CHAMBERS OF THE EMPEROR?”

As Skarsvalg flops back to you in surprise, you look towards the darkness to see a large red nose emerge from it, the eyes of the Probopass seemingly irked rather than angry as it stares at you and Skarsvalg, before they open up fully.

“HUMAN? HERE? THIS SEEMS ILLOGICAL. YOU ARE NOT HERE FOR ANY PURPOSE OTHER THAN YOUR OWN FINANCIAL GAIN! EGRESS AT ONCE OR ONE SHALL HAVE TO APPREHEND YOU IN THE NAME OF EMPEROR TESLA!”

As you watch, the Probopass slowly advances towards you, having lifted itself off the ground with magnet rise.

What will you do?

"Cash, cash, cash" The whicash flopped in joy, flopped in horror, and continued to flop in question. 'What should I do now, what should I do now,' was probably its linguistic equivalent. Nothing new, but the probopass from the ground or wherever it came from, was definitely a surprise indeed. Centin did not want to see such things, not at such a young age, but maybe his whiscash had foreseen this earlier, or call it pokemon instinct. Without further thinking, he tried to escape the probopass, ushering his whiscash with it. The catfish then flopped around, following its trainer.

"I guess this was so not what I expected. I wanted to see people, machines and ..well, people!" Centin tried to find a way up, but in the almost absence of light other than some shining from the ground, that pretty much seemed like a dull idea. Hence, he tried for a 2 way strategy. One to get him up, and one more to void off the probopass, simultaneously, hopefully. "Skarsvalg, use mud bomb to lower the range of sight of the probopass. Then use magnitude and try to raise the grounds to different levels. If that works, see if we can hop ourselves upwards, or at least we can try to be on a higher playing field, and I mean it both literally and laterally."

Shadow: With the boy safe and Zapster facing up to a rather irked shark, you call out to the Electivire stating to work on the defensive. Concentrating in spite of the pain in his arm, Zapster erects a shimmering barrier before him just as Sharpedo blitzes forward with the skull bash and as you wonder if the barrier will hold against the attack, a loud crack echoes throughout the beach as Sharpedo drifts back a few metres as the barrier crumbles before the assault, Zapster seeming tired yet pleased that the defences held as he wades to the shark and unleashes a signal beam at close range as the shark opens his mouth to chomp down on the Thunderbolt Pokémon, the insectoid energy causing discomfort for the fish as Zapster winces at the crunch the shark gave to him. Swimming back, Sharpedo then focuses energy into his teeth once more as the air chills around him, and as Zapster takes it as do or die, the sudden aqua jet from his flank causes him to lapse in concentration leaving his shoulder open for the ice fang to connect, a pained screech emanating from the Electivire as you look towards the crafty Carvanha behind him, rather annoyed at the dirty double act.

The vision of the same piranha getting struck by a rapidly spinning Starmie, however, adds relief to you as Sharpedo releases his grip on Zapster, who seems in great pain as his wounds slowly drip blood, but he turns around and with Starmie by his side offloads a thunderbolt at the carnivores, the smaller one floating to the surface as Sharpedo roars loudly and thrashes in pain before eventually giving up the ghost and going belly-up beside his little chum. Level up for Zapster.

As you take note of the success, Zapster suddenly drops to his knee as Starmie hastily thrusts itself under him and as he is dragged to shore, you are quick to notice the injuries he has sustained, in spite of his triumphant grin. Kneeling on the beach, he nods in pain as he rises, his arms and shoulder showing wet and matted hair with small incisions from the bites.

“Oh, god, I’m sorry this happened to your Electivire.”

As you turn to the lad, you notice him with a small bottle with orange-tinted liquid inside as he heads over to Zapster, tears starting to bud in his eyes as he carefully sprays the contents on the Thunderbolt Pokémon’s wounds as you hear footsteps from behind you and notice a rather gruff man in his mid-forties, his eyes seemingly in a persistent frown.

“Jason! I believe I’ve warned you before about heading off into the water without checking the reports. I believe you owe this young man an apology, which I see you’re doing. May I ask what exactly happened here?”

As you notice the simpering lad tend to Zapster’s wounds, it would seem that there’s some explaining to do before you can carry on with your own mission...

At the newfound scenario, Shadow tensed as he pursed his lips. Several elements of unexpectancy had appeared on the scene; Zapster's state of injury, and a new acquaintance who gave the scientist the feeling of someone not to be played or messed with. His own plans were most certainly getting disrupted; however at this stage it could no longer be the primary focus of discussion. There would not be any possibility of attempting to deviate the aim, for Zapster clearly lay there wounded and tended to. At best he might be able to suggest his aim for visiting, such that his mission would be clarified, but foremost he had to convey the truth.

"It's like this, sir," he began, tugging nervously on his sleeves. "I was walking on the coast looking for wild Staryu, when I witnessed this boy being attacked by a Sharpedo in shallow waters, and in a defenceless position with his Starmie temporarily incapacitated. I sent my Electivire and Quagsire into battle to save him, and if it wasn't for his timely intervention I think Zapster would have become Sharpedo food, as well. His Starmie helped me apprehend the offending fish, along with an unexpected Carvanha ambush on the side, and now he's helping my Electivire recuperate from an unexpectedly tough encounter. Honest, sir, this boy is not to blame -- he has a very well-trained Starmie in his possession, and he had not been ambushed as I later was he would certainly have been able to hold his own."

Lilblue: The shock of the attack on a Pokémon so young, and with a human aboard it as well, fills your heart with fear, hatred, sorrow and shock, yet you take note that in the current state, Tessie is a proverbial sitting duck as you call out your Wynaut Bobble to defend the injured apras just in time as another vicious harpoon screams forward and glances off the forcefield of safeguard, burying itself into the ship’s hull. As Custard and Haruki appear, the situation with the ship and the blood trickling from Tessie’s wound shocks the Delibird to the core as the bird moves quickly to attack the fiends who did this to the poor girl, while the small azure Corsola dips into the water and unleashes surprising strength to aid in getting Tessie out of trouble. As the ship’s ballista notes the new threat, the back of it freezes over as two men become visible, one of them taking manual control of the ballista while the other sends out a pokeball, releasing a rather surly Scyther, who starts slashing at the frozen rudder to try and bring manoeuvrability back to the trawler as a sudden blast catches its attention as Custard’s present to the hunters comes in the form of a busted ballista and a surprised hunter as he takes the harpoon he was loading in and swings it at the Delibird, the ice type being knocked back unawares into the water and staring death itself in the face as the outraged man hurls the missile at him as he floats completely open to attack...

...which is when a sudden burst of speed and a loud scraping sound grabs your attention as the Pokémon from the ship blitzes down in an aqua jet technique, intercepting the warhead before it makes a turkey out of Custard and as the Pokémon rises, Custard on one wing, the Empoleon gives the Delibird a launch platform as the bird takes flight and obliterates the rest of the ballista with egg bombs while Empoleon grunts as the shocking sight of the harpoon sticking out of the wing is replaced with the Penguin Pokémon simply pulling it out and dropping it into the water before freezing the wound over with a quick burst of ice beam before glaring at the men and heading back, the ship disabled.

As you turn back, a squealing sound catches your attention as you find you and Tessie at the rig, the Lapras resting comfortably in the middle of it, but the hum of wings catches you, Tessie, Bobble and Haruki’s attention as the Scyther from before takes flight as well as the surprising figure of a Pokémon not often seen in the area: A Garchomp, heading towards Tessie with surf as the man who struck Custard gives a throat-cutting animation to the Land Shark as it heads for you, with Empoleon in hot pursuit of it to try and stop it.

“This rig’s old, but it’ll get going in a minute or two. We’ll take care of the bug, but the dragon’s your responsibility, miss.”

Looking up, you see one of the cultists working with the machinery as you feel a jerk from the machine slowly lifting the injured Lapras from the waters slowly, but it is certain that you’ll have to keep the Garchomp at bay for some time beforehand to guarantee Tessie’s safety...

Ampere Beach

Rakurai: In spite of your Pokémon’s slight uncertainty about Andrew, the fact that he had only one arm and there wasn’t much to do on the beach meant that a boat trip was indeed a fine choice and as you state your decision, Andrew’s Pokémon give a cheerful round of applause in amusing fashion.

“Glad to have ye on board, Katsu! Unusual name, that, but ye’re likely thinking the same about my missing arm, eh?”

As you, Andrew and your Pokémon head into the shack, you find yourself looking around and your eyes befall a photo of him and a large sea serpent with a rather sheepish grin plastered on its chops as Andrew fiddles with a small radio.

“Aye, I lost my arm in an accident at sea, when my old boat ran into a mine left over by a war several decades ago. I thought I were a goner, until Goose came along. That Gyarados saved me, for sure, and e’er since we’ve been good mateys, aye. Glen here was me starter, and that Machoke over there is Hugh, while this wee birdie on me shoulder be Henry.”

As he introduces you to his Pokémon, his story keeping you interested, he gives a grin as the radio crackles to life.

“Andrew here, what be the problem exactly?”

“This is Ampere Beach Shore Watch. We’ve had reports of a group of Mantine becoming stuck in a bay nearby, with some Tentacruel on guard trying to keep them in. We need you to head off and help the Mantine out, and also to guide the Tentacruel back to their nesting waters.”

“Loud and clear. Andrew out.”

As he turns to you, he gives a thumbs-up before pointing you in the direction of a pier in the distance, which you assume is where his boat is moored. As the two of you leave, you hear a scream from further down the beach and as Andrew gives a nervous gulp, you follow suit. The problem is not the fact that there’s an Octillery on the beach, but the fact that its tentacles are at least ten feet long and its mouth is spitting Water Guns that seem about as strong as Hydro Pumps.

“Well, I’d say the Mantine might have to wait a bit, eh? This big octopus looks as though it’s scaring the tourists a little. I guess it’s best for us to try and stop ‘im, Amras?”

With the local area cleaned out with a few stray rods on the water, the giant Octillery turns his head your way with a bored look, seeming to pick a fight as it flexes its large tentacles, and it appears that you’ll have to take him down if you’re going to get to rescuing the Mantine.

Energos Quarry

Centin: With sudden surprise at the appearance of the Probopass, you make plans to escape the floating nose and usher orders to Skarsvalg, who flops in understanding. Hocking in his throat, the Whiscash hurls forth a hardened lump of mud towards the Probopass, who fails to notice it as the missile explodes all over him like a bomb, making the Pokémon close its eyes in surprise as it tries to shake the mud off, giving the Whiscash all the time to flop heavily into the ground to create a magnitude shift as you brace yourself. Noticing the Probopass already relatively clean, you find yourself knocked off your feet as the ground beneath you juts up, yet still out of tantalising reach as the Nose Pokémon’s eyes start to flare a little before it speaks in its eerie voice once more.

“I SEE IT’LL HAVE TO BE THE HARD WAY, AS USUAL. VERY WELL, PREPARE FOR YOUR INCARCERATION!”

As you watch the rock type floating mysteriously, you notice several small orbs of energy flow from the mini-noses before the magnetic properties of them send them screaming into the plateau you and Skarsvalg stand on before bursting like cluster bomblets as the ground beneath you trembles and collapses a little beneath the barrage as the Probopass’ eyes light up at the chaos before he starts crackling with abnormal emerald electricity, forming a cannonball of lightning before firing it forwards at the damaged plateau and you can only watch in horror as the explosion causes tendrils of the electricity to snare around the vicinity, zapping you as you feel your arm lock up in numbing paralysis as Skarsvalg looks at you in surprise before leering towards the Probopass.

“YOU STILL HAVE A CHANCE TO SURRENDER, HUMAN, AND I SHALL OVERLOOK THIS TRANSGRESSION YOU HAVE HAD. IT MAY EVEN AID YOU SHOULD THE EMPEROR...”

As you watch in some curiosity, the Probopass stops talking and the hat rises slightly as the eyes of the nose Pokémon close as it seems to receive a message through mystical telepathy, before slamming the hat down once more and turning to you and SKarsvalg once more.

“HUMAN! IT APPEARS AS THOUGH EMPEROR TESLA REQUESTS AN AUDIENCE WITH YOU. I HAVE ORDERS TO TAKE YOU TO HIM< CONSIOUS OR NOT. IT WOULD BE FAVOURABLE FOR YOU TO ACCOMPANY ME TO HIM, AS ONE WOULD IMAGINE.”

As the Probopass looks at you with a stern look, the mini-noses crackle with eth same supernatural electricity as before, obviously preparing an attack if you show resistance. However, the prospect of meeting the one presumably in charge of the local area may be a tempting offer...

Lilblue: The shock of the attack on a Pokémon so young, and with a human aboard it as well, fills your heart with fear, hatred, sorrow and shock, yet you take note that in the current state, Tessie is a proverbial sitting duck as you call out your Wynaut Bobble to defend the injured apras just in time as another vicious harpoon screams forward and glances off the forcefield of safeguard, burying itself into the ship’s hull. As Custard and Haruki appear, the situation with the ship and the blood trickling from Tessie’s wound shocks the Delibird to the core as the bird moves quickly to attack the fiends who did this to the poor girl, while the small azure Corsola dips into the water and unleashes surprising strength to aid in getting Tessie out of trouble. As the ship’s ballista notes the new threat, the back of it freezes over as two men become visible, one of them taking manual control of the ballista while the other sends out a pokeball, releasing a rather surly Scyther, who starts slashing at the frozen rudder to try and bring manoeuvrability back to the trawler as a sudden blast catches its attention as Custard’s present to the hunters comes in the form of a busted ballista and a surprised hunter as he takes the harpoon he was loading in and swings it at the Delibird, the ice type being knocked back unawares into the water and staring death itself in the face as the outraged man hurls the missile at him as he floats completely open to attack...

...which is when a sudden burst of speed and a loud scraping sound grabs your attention as the Pokémon from the ship blitzes down in an aqua jet technique, intercepting the warhead before it makes a turkey out of Custard and as the Pokémon rises, Custard on one wing, the Empoleon gives the Delibird a launch platform as the bird takes flight and obliterates the rest of the ballista with egg bombs while Empoleon grunts as the shocking sight of the harpoon sticking out of the wing is replaced with the Penguin Pokémon simply pulling it out and dropping it into the water before freezing the wound over with a quick burst of ice beam before glaring at the men and heading back, the ship disabled.

As you turn back, a squealing sound catches your attention as you find you and Tessie at the rig, the Lapras resting comfortably in the middle of it, but the hum of wings catches you, Tessie, Bobble and Haruki’s attention as the Scyther from before takes flight as well as the surprising figure of a Pokémon not often seen in the area: A Garchomp, heading towards Tessie with surf as the man who struck Custard gives a throat-cutting animation to the Land Shark as it heads for you, with Empoleon in hot pursuit of it to try and stop it.

“This rig’s old, but it’ll get going in a minute or two. We’ll take care of the bug, but the dragon’s your responsibility, miss.”

Looking up, you see one of the cultists working with the machinery as you feel a jerk from the machine slowly lifting the injured Lapras from the waters slowly, but it is certain that you’ll have to keep the Garchomp at bay for some time beforehand to guarantee Tessie’s safety...

Another harpoon screamed piercingly; this time its shrill impact was muted by Bobble’s quick defense, imbedding the strident tip instead in the weak hull of the ship. Custard and Haruki appeared directly after, the Delibird visibly shocked by the vermicular trails of blood oozing from the Lapras’s wound. His quills quivered with candid rage as he turned his eyes towards the ballista, which loomed challengingly on the horizon, completely unabashed by the destruction it had caused. Unforgivable, the machine had to be taught a harsh lesson. In fact, he would even instruct it personally as a gift.

He trumpeted a war cry, and flew with great speed to the trawler’s bow, his movement mechanically tracked by the heavy dart. Suddenly as he approached, the machine’s aim stuttered, then groaned unexpectedly to a halt, its rear panel completely disabled by a heavy block of ice. The shapes of two men became visible onboard the ship, as one reached the ballista to take manual control of the device, while the other tossed a Pokéball, releasing a surly-looking Scyther. The mantis began to hack at the frozen rudder in an inexorable attempt to restore the ship’s mobility, when a sudden violent explosion literally rocked the small boat, startling the three passengers and completely ending the ballista’s operation.

The man who had been inserting a harpoon stepped back, still tightly gripping the spear as he glared at Custard, grinning triumphantly overhead. The man growled and swung the projectile at the Delibird, aggressively knocking the surprised penguin into the water. Jessica screamed as she watched the barbed tip flash curtly with murderous intent, before striking down at Custard, who could only stare open-beaked in terror as death mercilessly approached his drifting, helpless form…

Something whizzed past her, a scraping blur of blue feathers and steel. The torpedo landed in the water directly between Custard and the oncoming spearhead, providing a timely interruption. From the surge of water, the Empoleon rose with Custard safely on one wing, launching him into the sky to bombard the ballista’s remains with a barrage of explosive eggs until there was nothing left but a few scraps of metal and wood. Her heart relieved to see her Pokémon unharmed, it sank once again when Jessica noticed the shaft of the harpoon protruding horribly from the Empoleon’s opposite wing, the terrible price the elder penguin had to pay for saving a junior’s life. Despite the obvious pain it should cause the victim, it was Jessica instead who winced as she watched the sturdy Pokémon simply pull the spear from its wing and toss it unthinkingly aside like a toothpick, immediately sealing the wound with ice. It then cast a dark frown towards the hunters before quickly heading back to the S.S. Lanturn, its sacrificing mission of duty and pride accomplished.

A sharp squeal commanded her focus, and Jessica turned to realize they had made it to the rig. With Haruki’s extra burst of strength, he managed to push Tessie onto the center of the platform, where she could finally relax her worn, injured limbs. Jessica patted Tess’s back, congratulating her and assuring the young Lapras once again that everything would be all right.

At that moment, a dull drone filled her ears, and she turned to witness the poachers’ Scyther take off into the sky, buzzing irately. Below, another Pokémon charged forcefully through the water towards the group, one she didn’t recognize: fierce fins and eyes, resembling a shark. Its body was more lean however, sleek and determined, with scales and claws suggestive of reptilian build rather than aquatic.

She glanced wildly past the advancing terror, at the man who attempted to gouge Custard. He sneered, and gave a cutthroat motion to the beast, who eagerly sped up its bloodthirsty pace. Empoleon desperately attempted to follow it to try to halt the inevitable onslaught, but was soon abandoned by the creature’s wake. Jessica’s heart pumped increasingly faster as she watched the monster draw closer to them, and glimpsed pleadingly up at the deck, frantically imploring the rig to start moving already and lift them to safety.

“This rig’s old, but it’ll get going in a minute or two. We’ll take care of the bug, but the dragon’s your responsibility, miss.”

She noticed one of the cultists above hurriedly activating the controls – she felt a wrench, followed by a groan as the machine began to lift grindingly under protest. She cast her glance back towards the waves, the dragon was still approaching at full speed, and the rig had only managed to weakly climb a couple inches, barely swinging above the surface of the water. She needed to buy some time, she turned beseechingly to the two small Pokémon beside her. Although they were visibly fatigued, they nodded resolutely, neither willing to abandon their friend who was still in need. Jessica smiled at them in thanks.

“Haruki, try to slow down the dragon with BUBBLEBEAM and CONFUSE RAY. Bobble, be prepared to SAFEGUARD Tessie against any further attacks.” She turned to find Custard, spotting him in angered pursuit of the shark from the air. ”Custard! QUICK ATTACK the dragon, and blow ICY WIND in its face! Then, attack it with STEEL WING!”